LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

OIF^T    OF" 

Mrs.  SARAH  P.  WALS WORTH. 

Received  October,  1894. 
Accessions  No.$ftjf7%  .      Class  No. 


PRIMITIVE  PIETY  REVIVED, 


OR 


THE  AGGRESSIVE   POWER    OF   THE 
CHRISTIAN    CHURCH. 


PREMIUM    ESSAY. 


BY 


REV.   HENRY    C.   FISH, 
it 

N  E  W  A  It  K  ,    N .  J  . 

• 
" 


BOSTON: 
CONGREGATIONAL  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 

16    TREMONT   TEMPLE. 
1  855. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855,  by 
SEWALL  HARDING, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


CAMBRIDGE    : 

ALLEN    AND    FARNHAM,    STEREOTYPERS    AND    PRINTERS. 


PREMIUM    OFFERED. 

A  benevolent  individual,  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  a 
more  elevated  type  of  piety  in  the  churches  and  in  the  ministry,  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publication  the  sum  of 
two  hundred  dollars,  to  be  given  to  the  author  of  the  best  Essay  on 

The  more  perfect  exemplification  in  Christian  life  of  the  doctrines  of  the 
gospel,  and  with  special  reference  to  the  conversion  of  sinners  to  Christ.  Par 
ticularly  :  — 

To  set  forth  in  a  just  and  striking  light,  the  grand  defects  of  Christian 
character  which  hinder  the  triumph  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  on  earth, 
and  the  cause  of  these  defects : 

To  delineate  the  true  New  Testament  model  of  Christian  character  and 
Christian  life : 

To  revive  and  perpetuate  the  faith  illustrated  in  the  eleventh  chapter 
of  Hebrews,  as  an  energizing  and  all-conquering  principle,  actually  sub 
ordinating  earthly  things  to  heavenly : 

To  show  the  true  sense  of  the  self-denial  required  by  Christ  as  essential 
to  discipleship : 

To  urge  the  peculiar  responsibility  of  Christians  at  the  present  day,  to 
attain  to  a  higher  degree  of  faith  and  holiness,  and  to  exhibit  the  same, 
particularly  in  personal  efforts  for  the  salvation  of  men:  Together  with 

The  motives  and  means  of  this  attainment. 

The  Committee  of  Examination  and  Award  are  Dr.  Humphrey  of 
Pittsfield,  Dr.  Ide  of  West  Medway,  and  Dr.  Hawes  of  Hartford. 


PREMIUM    AWARDED. 

THE  Committee  appointed  to  receive  and  pass  upon  the  merits  of  man 
uscripts  for  a  Premium  Essay  on  the  above-named  subject,  have  exam 
ined  all  the  manuscripts  put  into  their  hands,  and  award  the  premium  to 
KEV.  HENRY  C.  FISH  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  author  of  the  one  entitled 
PRIMITIVE  PIETY  EEVIVED,  or  THE  AGGRESSIVE  POWER  OF  THE 
CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  as  upon  the  whole  the  best. 

Several  others  are  well  written,  and  two  or  three  are  of  such  decided 
merit  that  the  Committee  would  be  glad  to  see  them  in  print. 

H.  HUMPHREY, 
J.  IDE, 
J.  HAWES. 

(iii) 


TO 

THE  GENEROUS  FRIEND, 

WITH   WHOSE*  LIBERALITY   THIS   ESSAY    ORIGINATED  J 
TO  THE  AUTHOR'S  PIOUS  AND  VENERABLE  PARENTS  ; 

AND  TO  ALL  WHO  DESIRE  A  REVIVAL  OF  THE  PRIMITIVE  FAITH  IN  THK 
CHURCHES  OF  OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST; 

THESE   PAGES 
ARE   AFFECTIONATELY   INSCRIBED. 


"  The  church  itself  requires  conversion."  —  Harris. 

"  The  great  want  of  this  age,  is  the  regeneration  of  Christendom."  — 
Baird. 

"  To  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  we  must  look  for  a  new  order  of 
men,  —  men  just  as  absorbed  in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  as  worldlings  are 
in  gathering  gold."  —  Kincaid. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

AN  INQUIRY  AS  TO  THE  ACTUAL,  EXISTENCE  OF  ANT   SERIOUS  DEFECTS 
IN  THE   PREVAILING  PIETY   OF   THE  AGE. 

The  Fiery  Cross.  —  The  Great  Usurpation.  —  The  promised  Messiah.  — 
The  Mission  of  his  Followers.  —  The  Injunction  not  regarded.  —  Pres 
ent  Condition  of  the  Church  of  Christ:  much  to  commend;  much  to 
lament. —  The  Type  of  Piety.  — Proofs  of  its  Defectiveness.  —  Gen 
eral  Opinion.  —  Ministerial  Destitution.—  Unconcern  for  the  Heathen. 

—  Progress  of  the  Mission  Work.  —  Missionary  Pictures  of  the  Bible. 

—  Counterpart  not  found.  —  Not  to  be  attributed  to  Pecuniary  Inabil 
ity.  _  Wealth  of  United  States  Christians.  —  Not  attributable  to  want 
of  Numerical  Force.  —  Primitive   Disciples.  —  Third  Proof:    Small 
Success  of   Gospel  in  Christian  Lands.  —  Proportion  of  Inhabitants 
pious.  —  Eelative  increase  of  Christians  and  United  States  Population. 

—  Facts  as  to  New  York  City.  — Home  Heathen.  —  Inevitable  Conclu 
sion.  —  Objections  answered.  —  Outward  Appearances   deceptive.  — 
Organism  not  Power.  —  Zion  to  put  on  her  Strength       .        .         1-33 


CHAPTER   II. 

FIRST   GRAND  DEFECT  OF    THE    PREVAILING   PIETY   OF   THE    TIMES — A 
WANT   OF   SIMPLICITY   OF   PURPOSE. 

The  "  Single  Eye."  —  The  True  Aim.  —  "  Why  am  I  here  ?  "  —  A  priori 
Argument.  —  Scripture  View.  —  Why  converted.  —  Christ  a  Model  of 
Simplicity  of  Purpose.  —  Imitated  by  Early  Disciples.  —  Existing 
want  of  Unity  of  Object.  —  Vocation  not  comprehended.  —  Rage  for 
Money.  —  Why  is  Wealth  sought  ?  —  Divorce  of  Religion  and  Business. 
—  Sacrifice  to  Self.  —  Perils  of  Active  Pursuits.  —  Piety  and  Worldly 
Care  not  antagonistic.  —  Examples.  —  "  My  business  Trade."  —  Varied 

(Ix) 


CONTENTS. 

Services,  one  End.  —  Gem  from  Flavel.  —  Guilt  of  living  for  Unworthy 
Objects.  —  Return  of  Ancient  Times.  —  Christ's   Life  reproduced.— 

Glorious  Results.  —  Call  for  Reform.  —  Duty  of  Parents. Duty  of 

Ministers.  —  Appeal 34-64 


CHAPTER   III. 

SECOND    GRAND    DEFECT    IN    THE    PIETY    OF   THE    PRESENT   DAY  —  THE 
WANT   OF  A  JUST   MEASURE   OF   CONSECRATION   TO    GOD. 

Nature  of  Consecration,  — Is  its  Spirit,  as  evinced  at  the  time  of  Conver 
sion,  retained?  — Sin  of  robbing  God.  —  Unsanctified  Affections.— 
Property,  not  consecrated.  —  Root  of  the  Evil.  —  Insidious  Nature  of 
Covetousness.  —  God's  Hatred  of  this  Sin.  —  Liability  of  being  con 
taminated  by  it.  —  Results  as  to  the  Spread  of  the  Gospel.  —  Early  Dis 
ciples  and  Moravians.  —  Cause  of  insufficient  Supply  of  Preachers.  — 
Of  Inefficiency  of  Prayer.  —  Where  to  apply  the  Remedy.  —  Alphabet 
of  the  Doctrine  of  Stewardship  not  yet  learned.  —  Heart  to  be  wholly 
consecrated.  —  Thus  escape  the  Perils  of  Wealth.  —  Power  within  and 
Impression  without.  —  Holiness  not  attained  without  Effort.  —  Why 
unsought.  —  Our  Lord  required  Retirement.  —  Piety  sent  back  to 
Home-altar  and  Closet.  —  An  elevated  Standard.  —  Aids  in  attaining  it. 

—  Knowledge  of    Scripture   Doctrine.  —  Other  means   indicated. 

Personal  Intel-rogations.  —  Luther  in  the  Pulpit.  —  President  Edwards. 

—  Tests  of  Covetousness 65-101 


CHAPTER   IV. 

A  WANT   OF   SELF-DENIAL   FOR   CHRIST  — A   FOURTH    GRAND   DEFECT   IN 
THE  PIETY   WHICH   NOW  PREVAILS. 

What  is  Self-denial  ?  —  Why  required.  —  How  exercised.  —  Practised  by 
God's  People  in  aU  Ages.  —  Still  demanded.  —  Unless  suffered  with 
Him,  not  reign  with  Him.  —  The  Duty  explicitly  enjoined.  —  A  great 
Law  of  the  Christian  Religion.  —  Just  as  much  Religion  as  Self-denial. 
—  Not  practised  to  requisite  extent  at  the  present  Time.  —  Reluctance 
of  Parents  to  give  Children  to  Mission  Service.  —  Limited  benevo 
lent  Contributions.  —  General  Style  of  Living.  —  Conformity  to  the 
W^orld.  — Ungodly  Men  give  Laws  to  the  Church.  — The  Usurpation 
indorsed.  —  The  Evil  on  the  increase.  —  Calamitous  Results.  —  A  Re 
turn  to  the  Simplicity  of  former  Days  a  pressing  Necessity.  —  Not 
safe  for  God's  Children  to  follow  after  the  World.  —  The  Self-sacrificing 
Spirit  waits  a  Resurrection.  —  Incentives  to  Self-denial.  —  The  con 
straining  Power  of  Love.  —  Individual  Application  of  the  Sub 
ject  .  102-133 


CONTENTS.  xi 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE  WANT   OF  A   SCRIPTURAL  FAITH  —  A   GRAND   DEFECT   IN  THE  PRE~ 
VAILING  TYPE  OF  PIETY. 

Faith  defined.  —  Scriptural  Examples.  —  Sublime  Eesults.  —  Brings  to 
view  Eternal  Things.  —  Secures  Sanctification.  —  Imparts  Activity 
and  Strength.  —  Enables  us  to  overcome  the  World.  —  A  Scriptural 
Faith  not  prevalent.  —  Scepticism  in  the  Church.  —  As  to  Prayer 
and  Missions,  and  other  Departments  of  Christian  Duty.  —  A  Faith 
such  as  is  requisite,  entirely  practicable.  —  Its  Possession  a  cardinal 
Necessity  of  any  Age.  —  Spiritual  Enemies  the  same.  —  World  not 
modified  in  favor  of  the  Church,  but  the  Church  in  favor  of  the 
World.  —  Faith  of  Martyr  Age  still  demanded.  —  Efforts  to  be  made 
for  its  Attainment.  —  May  be  increased.  —  How  effected.  —  Glorious 
Results  of  Return  of  Primitive  Faith  .  .  134-161 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIFTH   GRAND   DEFECT  —  A  WANT  OF   EARNESTNESS. 

Xavier's  Night  Vision.  —  The  Earnest  Man.  — The  Earnest  Christian.— 
Christ  an  Example  of  Earnestness.  —  Paul.  —  The  Order  of  the  Jesu 
its-  —  The  "  United  Brethren."  —  The  Achievements  of  Earnestness.  — 
To  what  Extent  it  obtains  among  Christians  in  this  Age.  —  Necessity 
of  Increase.  —  In  the  Ministry.  —  Power  of  Earnestness.  —  Want  of  it 
acknowledged.  —  John  Welch.  —  John  Knox.  —  Earnest  Laymen  re 
quired.  —  Regard  for  Themselves  requires  it.  —  Suitable  Care  for 
Others.  —  The  Spirit  of  the  Age  makes  this  essential.  —  Contrast  be 
tween  Earnestness  of  the  WTorld  and  the  Church.  —  Vigor  within 
necessary  to  resent  Evils  from  without.  —  Ancient  Church ;  how  cor 
rupted.  —  Present  Danger  from  Wickedness  in  High  Places.  —  from 
Romanism  and  from  Formalism.  —  Deterioration  already  commenced. 
—  Address  to  the  Reader .  162-193 


CHAPTER   VII. 

SIXTH   GRAND   DEFECT  —  WANT   OF   INDIVIDUALISM. 

The  most  important  Thought,  —  Each  for  Himself.  —No  serving  God  by 
Proxy.  —  The  Great  Commission.  —  How  interpreted  by  the  first  Con 
verts.  —  The  Church  pure  so  long  as  Individualism  was  recognized.  — 
The  Germ  of  Popery.  —  Decline  and  Rise  of  Individualism.  —  The 
Principle  not  yet  practically  adopted.  —  Need  of  a  second  Refonna- 


xii  CONTENTS. 

tion.  —  Masses  unrenewed.  —  Want  of  Maturity  in  Christians.  —  Want 
of  holy  Joy.  —  Few  Additions  to  Churches.  —  Slumbering  Energies 
and  buried  Talents.  —  A  grand  Device  of  Satan  to  crush  Individualism 
under  ponderous  Organisms.  —  Error  as  to  Relation  of  Ministers  and 
Laymen.  —  Successful  Pastors  aided  by  private  Members.  —  Where 
lies  the  Strength  of  Spiritual  Army.  —  Necessity  of  Individualism  in 
large  Cities.  —  Lay  Agency  too  much  lost  sight  of.  —  Oncken  and  the 
German  Churches.  —  Lay  Missionaries.  —  Consequences  of  coming 
Activity.  — Upon  Christian  Character  and  Enjoyment.  —  Upon  Spread 
of  Gospel  and  the  Conversion  of  the  World.  —  Kesponsibility  of  Minis 
ters  as  to  its  Increase.  —  Home  Thoughts  ....  194-230 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE  GRAND  REMEDY  FOR  ALL  EXISTING  DEFECTS  IN  CHRISTIAN  CHAR 
ACTER  — A  GENERAL  AND  POWERFUL  REVIVAL  OF  RELIGION  IN  THE 
CHURCHES. 

Recapitulation.  — Where  the  Promise  of  his  Coming?  — A  powerful  and 
extensive  work  of  Grace  the  grand  Means  of  Progress.  —  The  Spirit 
of  God  the  animating  Agency  in  the  Church.  —  Aggressive  Move 
ments  of  Modern  Times  the  fruit  of  Revivals.  —  Permanence  and 
Welfare  of  our  Country  to  be  attributed  to  special  Outpourings  of 
the  Spirit,  —  Such  Seasons  now  required.  —  Need  of,  in  the  great  Cen 
tres  of  Influence.  —  In  all  parts  of  the  Land.  —  Position  of  this  Coun 
try,  and  sublime  Mission  of  the  American  Churches.  —  Revivals 
gained,  all  gained.  — Pentecostal  Scenes  to  be  expected.  — Ministers 
to  labor  for  their  return.  —  Christians  generally  to  awake  and  come  up 
to  the  help  of  the  Lord.  —  Concluding  Appeal  .  .  .  231-249 


PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED 


CHAPTER    I. 


AN  INQUIRY  AS  TO  THE   ACTUAL   EXISTENCE   OF  ANY  SERIOUS 
DEFECTS    IN    THE    PREVAILING   PIETY   OF    THE    AGE. 

The  Fiery  Cross.  —  The  Great  Usurpation.  —  The  promised  Messiah. — 
The  Mission  of  His  Followers.  —  The  Injunction  not  regarded.  — 
Present  Condition  of  the  Church  of  Christ :  much  to  commend ;  much 
to  lament.  —  The  Type  of  Piety.  —  Proofs  of  its  Defectiveness.  — 
General  Opinion.  —  Ministerial  Destitution.  —  Unconcern  for  the 
Heathen. — Progress  of  the  Mission  Work.  —  Missionary  Pictures  of 
the  Bible. —  Counterpart  not  found. — Not  to  be  attributed  to  Pecu 
niary  Inability.  —  Wealth  of  United  States  Christians.  —  Not  attribu 
table  to  want  of  Numerical  Force.  —  Primitive  Disciples.  —  Third 
Proof:  Small  Success  of  Gospel  in  Christian  Lands.  —  Proportion  of 
Inhabitants  pious.  —  Kelative  increase  of  Christians  and  United  States 
Population.  —  Facts  as  to  New  York  City.  —  Homo  Heathen.  —  Inevi 
table  Conclusion.  —  Objections  answered.  —  Outward  Appearances 
deceptive.  —  Organism  not  Power.  —  Zion  to  put  on  her  Strength. 

THAT  was  a  beautiful  custom  of  the  ancient  Scot 
tish  chiefs,  the  assembling  of  their  clans  by  means 
of  the  herald  and  the  Fiery  Cross.  In  the  event  of 
any  invasion  upon  his  territory,  or  any  sudden  emer 
gency,  the  chieftain  slew  a  goat;  and  the  priest, 
making  a  cross  of  light  wood,  and  scathing  it  with 
fire,  and  quenching  the  flaming  points  in  the  blood 
1  (i) 


2  PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

of  the  animal,  held  it  aloft,  and  cried  in  substance, 
thus :  — 

"  When  flits  this  cross  from  man  to  man, 
Vich- Alpine's  summons  to  his  clan, 
Burst  be  the  ear  that  fails  to  heed ! 
Palsied  the  foot  that  shuns  to  speed ! " 

The  chieftain,  then  receiving  the  cross,  delivered  it  to 
a  swift  and  trusty  messenger,  who  was  to  run  at  full 
speed  to  the  next  hamlet,  and  present  it  to  a  princi 
pal  person,  with  a  simple  word,  implying  the  place 
of  rendezvous.  He  who  received  the  symbol,  con 
sidered  himself  solemnly  bound,  under  the  most 
fearful  anathemas,  to  send  it  forward  with  the  same 
despatch  to  the  next  village,  until  it  should  have 
passed  through  all  the  country  which  owed  alle 
giance  to  the  chief.  And,  at  its  appearance,  every 
ablebodied  man  from  sixteen  years  old  to  sixty,  was 
to  repair,  with  the  least  possible  delay,  to  the  desig 
nated  place. 

How  inspiring  the  scene !  Forth  plunges  the 
messenger  of  "  blood  and  brand,"  in  his  fleet  career. 
Parched  are  his  burning  lips  and  brow,  but  by  the 
fountain  he  pauses  not.  He  breasts  the  cragged 
hill,  he  springs  across  the  "  trembling  bog  and  false 
morass,"  nor  fails  till  he  has  delivered  the  symbol  to 
a  second  messenger,  who  transmits  it  with  equal 
haste  to  a  third,  and  thus  the  Fiery  Cross  glanced 
"  like  a  meteor  round." 

The  huts  and  hamlets  are  in  arms;  and  hardy 
men  are  poured  from  highland  and  glen.  The  fish 
erman  forsakes  Ms  nets  ;  the  smith  his  anvil ;  the 
herdsman  his  flock;  —  the  mower  drops  his  scythe 
in  the  half-cut  swath  —  the  plough  in  mid-furrow 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  d 

stays,  and  every  loyal  son  presses  to  stand  in  arms 
by  his  chieftain's  side. 

The  empire  of  our  KING  has  been  invaded.  Never 
did  a  sovereign  hold  possession  by  a  more  righteous 
title ;  for  he  created  the  world  and  all  things  that  are 
therein.  But  for  this,  Satan,  his  great  rival,  was  not 
the  less  desirous  of  supplanting  and  superseding 
him. 

In  his  cunning  craftiness  he  planned  a  revolt.  It 
was  too  successful.  He  established  his  kingdom, 
and  thought  to  hold  on  earth  an  undisputed  sway. 
But  God  in  mercy  to  man  had  otherwise  determined. 
Upon  the  heel  of  the  revolt  had  followed  the  threat 
of  his  final  defeat.  The  seed  of  the  woman  should 
bruise  the  serpent's  head.  In  due  time,  that  "  seed  " 
appeared  to  execute  the  threatening,  and  destroy  the 
works  of  the  devil.  Having  laid  deep  and  broad  the 
foundation  of  an  everlasting  kingdom,  the  Messiah 
permitted  himself  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  wicked 
men,  and  was  crucified  and  slain.  Possessing,  how 
ever,  the  power  of  laying  down  his  life,  he  had 
power  to  take  it  up  again.  Rising  from  the  tomb, 
and  ascending  up  on  high,  he  commissioned  his  fol 
lowers  to  cooperate  in  bringing  a  revolted  world  into 
allegiance  with  its  rightful  Lord  and  King.  Lifting 
high  the  blood-stained  cross,  the  heralds  of  salvation 
were  to  go  into  all  the  world,  and  "  make  ready  a 
people  prepared  for  the  Lord."  How  far  have  they 
been  faithful  to  their  trust  ?  And  where  the  cross 
has  appeared,  to  what  extent  have  men  allied  them 
selves  to  the  interests  of  our  King  ?  Alas,  that  those 
to  whom  the  gospel  has  been  given,  with  the  charge 
to  send  it  forward  to  others,  have  been  so  negligent 


4  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

of  their  duty !  Alas,  that  the  oppressed  subjects  of 
the  "  prince  of  this  world,"  have  been  so  reluctant 
to  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the 
mighty ! 

But  what  is  the  present  condition  and  actual  pro 
gress  of  the  Christian  Church  ?  Than  this  there 
cannot  be  a  question  of  greater  importance.  It 
relates  to  every  thing  that  is  dear  to  Christ,  and 
essential  to  the  highest  interests  of  man. 

Upon  a  careful  survey  of  the  churches,  as  they 
now  present  themselves,  there  is  much  to  rejoice 
and  encourage  the  pious  heart.  Their  numerous 
membership  embraces  a  fair  proportion  of  the  intelli 
gence,  and  wealth,  and  influence  of  the  land;  and 
between  the  different  religious  denominations  there 
exists  a  good  degree  of  fraternal  sympathy  and 
affection.  Their  kindly  influences  are  constantly 
extending  themselves.  The  discoveries  and  applica 
tions  in  the  department  of  science,  united  with  com 
merce  —  one  of  God's  great  agents  —  and  the  spirit 
of  inquiry  which  prompts  the  researches  of  the 
scholar  and  the  antiquarian,  have  opened  up  the 
most  distant  and  obscure  parts  of  the  globe,  and 
placed  in  communication  with  each  other  the  differ 
ent  nations,  thereby  diffusing  somewhat  of  Christian 
influence. 

More  prominent  are  the  direct  religious  forces 
operating  through  their  missionaries  and  mission 
churches,  and  the  multiplied  copies  of  the  Scriptures, 
for  the  evangelization  of  the  heathen.  Wonderful, 
indeed,  has  been  the  change  in  public  sentiment 
upon  the  subject  of  missions,  since  the  days  when 
Sidney  Smith  publicly  ridiculed  the  idea  that  a  man, 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  5 

whom  he  styled,  by  way  of  contempt,  the  "  conse 
crated  cobbler,"  should  trouble  his  mind,  and  the 
minds  of  others,  about  the  conversion  of  four  hun 
dred  and  twenty  millions  of  pagans,  —  a  project 
which  appeared  not  more  chimerical  to  him,  than 
to  nine  tenths  of  the  then  existing  population  of 
Christendom.  And  wonderful  the  advance  in  out 
ward  Christian  benevolence,  since  that  germinal 
missionary  collection  of  twelve  pounds,  thirteen 
shillings,  and  sixpence,  at  a  meeting  in  Kettering  in 
the  year  1792.  But  notwithstanding  these  encour 
aging  considerations,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that 
there  is  much  in  the  present  condition  of  the  Chris 
tian  Church  to  chasten  our  rejoicings,  awaken  our 
concern,  and  impel  us  to  earnest  prayer  and  deep 
contrition  before  God. 

In  the  opinion  of  many  there  is  cause  for  the 
deepest  solicitude  in  regard  to  the  type  of  piety  that 
now  generally  prevails.  The  following  language 
of  a  benevolent  individual,  is  a  fair  expression  of  this 
sentiment :  "  As  compared  with  the  work  now 
demanded  by  the  exigencies  of  Christ's  kingdom, 
the  present  is  an  age  of  worldliness,  of  lukewarm- 
ness,  and  self-indulgence.  The  merest  modicum, 
as  a  general  thing,  is  given  to  the  work  of  Christ, 
while  multitudes  go  for  fashion,  extravagance,  and 
luxury.  Even  the  little  we  do  for  foreign  missions 
seems  in  danger  of  bribing  our  consciences  into  the 
neglect  of  the  perishing  around  us.  The  broad  way 
is  still  the  thronged  way."  * 

*  The  unknown  author  of  the  proposal,  which  was  the  more 
immediate  occasion  of  the  preparation  of  this  Essay 

1* 


6  PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

The  very  grave  question  which  it  is  proposed  now 
to  consider,  relates  to  the  justness  of  this  opinion. 
It  may  be  thus  concisely  stated :  Is  the  prevailing 
piety  of  the  present  age  seriously  defective  ?  Let  us 
not  shrink  from  the  honest  investigation  of  this  sub 
ject.  Let  the  Church  of  Christ  consider  that  her 
strength  and  beauty  are  in  exact  proportion  to  her 
true  piety ;  and  that  of  whatever  else  she  may  boast, 
it  is  but  the  "  earthly  attire  which  she  will  throw  off, 
as  she  steps  across  the  threshold  of  eternity,  to  enter 
the  temple  of  God."  Let  her  thoroughly  examine 
her  condition,  and  in  doing  it,  devoutly  pray: 
•'  Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart ;  try  me, 
and  know  my  thoughts :  and  see  if  there  be  any 
wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  ever 
lasting." 

The  opinion  of  enlightened  and  pious  men,  already 
alluded  to,  is  of  importance  in  attaining  to  a  just 
conclusion  upon  the  question  at  issue.  It  is  not  less 
remarkable  for  its  prevalence  than  for  its  obvious 
credibility.  The  number  of  such  as  reverence  an 
tiquity,  and  decry  every  thing  that  belongs  to  the 
present,  is  always  great ;  as  is  also  that  of  individ 
uals  whose  views  are  adopted  without  careful  and 
impartial  examination.  Hence  a  prevalent  is  not  al 
ways  a  just  opinion.  But  upon  this  subject  there 
comes  to  us  testimony  from  those  whose  judgment, 
and  facilities  for  observation,  are  such,  as  to  entitle 
their  views  to  the  highest  consideration.  Says  the 
Rev.  John  Angell  James,  speaking  of  the  spiritual 
condition  of  the  great  body  of  the  professors  of  relig 
ion  :  "  Amidst  much  that  is  cheering,  there  is,  on  the 
other  hand,  much  that  is  discouraging  and  distress- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  7 

jng  to  the  more  pious  observer.  We  behold  a  strange 
combination  of  zeal  and  worldly-mindedness ;  great 
activity  for  the  extension  of  religion  in  the  earth, 
united  with  lamentable  indifference  to  the  state  of 
religion  in  the  soul ;  in  short,  apparent  vigor  in  the 
extremities,  with  a  growing  torpor  at  the  heart. 
Multitudes  are  substituting  zeal  for  piety,  liberality 
for  mortification,  and  a  social  for  a  personal  religion. 
No  careful  reader  of  the  New  Testament,  and  ob 
server  of  the  present  state  of  the  church,  can  fail  to 
be  convinced,  one  should  think,  that  what  is  now 
wanting  is  a  high  spirituality.  The  Christian  pro 
fession  is  sinking  in  its  tone  of  piety ;  the  line  of 
separation  between  the  church  and  the  world  be 
comes  less  and  less  perceptible;  and  the  character 
of  genuine  Christianity,  as  expounded  from  pulpits 
and  delineated  in  books,  has  too  rare  a  counterpart 
in  the  lives  and  spirit  of  its  professors."* 

In  a  late  discourse  upon  the  Apostolic  Ministry,  a 
distinguished  American  divine  held  the  following 
language  upon  the  same  subject :  "  But  what  is  the 
condition  of  our  churches  of  all  denominations  at 
this  critical  moment?  The  disciples  of  Christ  seem 
to  be  fast  losing  the  distinctive  marks  of  their  pro 
fession.  Self-denial  for  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer 
will  soon  become  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule. 
In  large  districts  of  the  country,  the  admissions  to 
the  churches  are  not  as  numerous  as  the  removals 
by  death.  In  the  mean  time  the  number  of  candi 
dates  for  the  ministry  is  diminishing  in  all  denomi 
nations,  not  only  relatively  but  absolutely.  Nay,  it  is 

*  Earnest  Ministry,  p.  62,  63. 


8  PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

diminishing  more  rapidly  than  the  figures  indicate, 
for  of  the  reputed  number  of  candidates  a  consider 
able  portion  never  enter  the  ministry ;  and  of  those 
who  enter  it,  a  greater  and  greater  number  leave  it 
for  other  pursuits."  * 

The  language  here  cited,  it  will  be  perceived, 
represents  different  religious  denominations,  and 
different  hemispheres,  and  may  be  taken  as  speci 
mens  of  what  might  be  extensively  adduced. 

This  prevailing  belief  in  the  general  decline  of 
primitive  piety,  is  confirmed  by  the  inadequate  supply 
of  Christian  ministers,  referred  to  in  the  above.  It  is 
an  observation  of  Isaac  Taylor,  "  that  a  religious 
body,  within  which  there  is  vitality,  will  ordinarily 
supply  itself  with  an  adequate  proportion  of  minis 
ters."  Beyond  question  there  is  truth  in  this  lan 
guage  of  that  able  and  sagacious  writer. 

The  young  convert  to  Christianity  naturally  takes 
upon  himself  the  type  of  piety  borne  by  the  church 
into  which  he  is  introduced.  If  that  is  highly  spir 
itual,  he  remains  spiritually  minded ;  if  the  reverse, 
he  will  almost  surely  sink  to  the  same  low  level. 
Now  it  is  the  measure  of  holy  love  in  the  soul  that 
determines,  to  some  extent,  the  question  of  consecrat 
ing  one's  self  to  the  work  of  the  ministry-!  If  the 
deep  principles  and  strong  emotions  of  a  truly  de 
voted  soul  obtain,  the  individual  will  find  it  exceed 
ingly  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  resist  the  call  of 
God  to  preach  the  gospel.  A  woe,  ringing  in  his 

*  Rev.  F.  Wayland,  D.  D.,  Discourse,  p.  78. 
f  For  "  the  ministerial  spirit  is  only  the  Christian  spirit,  under 
a  peculiar  form  and  with  a  peculiar  direction." 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  9 

ears,  a  fire,  shut  up  in  his  bones,  will  forbid  his  rest 
ing  satisfied  with  any  other  pursuit  than  that  of  the 
ministry  of  reconciliation.  A  stream  that  is  full  and 
rapid  in  its  current,  is  not  readily  diverted  from  the 
deepened  channel.  And  so  if  there  were  depth  and 
force  in  the  piety  of  our  young  men,  neither  the  at 
tractions  of  worldly  pursuits  on  the  one  hand,  nor 
the  discouragements  of  the  ministry  on  the  other, 
could  turn  them  from  the  path  of  duty.  Moreover, 
when  the  piety  of  the  churches  is  what  it  ought  to 
be,  there  will  be  much  and  earnest  prayer  for  laborers 
in  the  Lord's  harvest ;  and  also  a  diligent  watching 
and  searching  for  the  gifts  that  God  may  bestow ;  as 
well  as  liberal  provision  and  encouragement  for  those 
who  meet  with  difficulties  in  qualifying  themselves 
for  the  work  to  which  they  are  called.  It  is,  there 
fore,  true  that  if  there  be  vitality  in  the  church  there 
will  not  long  exist  any  serious  deficiency  in  the 
number  of  good  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

What,  then,  judged  by  this  standard,  must  be  the 
character  of  the  prevailing  piety  of  the  times  upon 
which  we  have  fallen  ?  If  there  is  a  single  fact  uni 
versally  admitted  and  deplored,  it  is  that  of  an 
alarming  destitution  as  regards  preachers  of  the 
gospel.  It  is  stated,  though  the  estimate  may  be 
somewhat  too  high,  that  in  one  denomination  there 
are  four  thousand  more  churches  than  available  min 
isters;  while  from  every  branch  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  every  quarter  of  the  globe  comes  the 
cry,  "  Send  us  men  to  thrust  in  the  sickle ;  the  har 
vest  is  plenteous,  but  the  laborers  are  few." 

That  many  causes,  such  as  the  inadequate  sup 
port  of  the  ministry,  the  difficulties  of  a  thorough 


10  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

mental  preparation,  the  accumulating  labors  and 
responsibilities  of  the  sacred  office,  and  the  like,  have 
operated  to  produce  this  lamentable  destitution,  is 
unquestionably  true ;  but  the  cause  is  more  remote 
than  all  this.  It  may  be  traced  back  to  the  char 
acter  of  the  piety  that  generally  prevails  in  the 
churches.  Speculate  as  we  may,  the  root  of  the 
whole  difficulty  lies  precisely  here. 

Prescribe  remedies  as  we  may,  there  can  be  no 
remedy  that  will  prove  efficacious,  which  is  not 
applied  here.  A  vital,  scriptural  piety  will  produce 
an  adequate  ministry :  but  the  Christian  Church  has 
not  an  adequate  ministry  ;  therefore  has  she  not  a 
scriptural  piety. 

An  estimate  of  the  prevailing  piety  of  the  age, 
may  be  formed  from  an  examination  of  the  character 
and  extent  of  Christian  effort  for  evangelizing  the 
nations. 

The  church  of  Christ  is  essentially  aggressive. 
The  great  command  of  its  founder  is,  "  Go,  disci 
ple  all  nations."  If  the  piety  of  the  church  conform 
to  the  divine  standard,  the  obligation  of  this  com 
mand  will  be  acknowledged  and  felt.  If  we  love 
Christ  as  we  ought,  we  shall  keep  His  command 
ments.  If  we  love  our  neighbor  as  ourselves,  we 
shall  not  look  upon  his  misery  with  an  unfeeling 
heart,  and  pass  by  on  the  other  side.  True  piety 
will  induce  action.  Faith  without  works  is  dead. 

With  these  admitted  principles  in  view,  we  inquire 
as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  past  and  present 
efforts  to  disseminate  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God. 
It  is  now  about  sixty  years  since  the  modern  mis 
sionary  movement  began.  And,  although  its  achieve- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  11 

ments  have  been  surpassingly  sublime,  little  has  been 
accomplished,  compared  with  what  yet  remains  to 
be  done. 

If  we  turn  to  the  volume  of  Divine  truth,  how 
glowing  its  descriptions  of  the  ultimate  triumphs  of 
the  truth!  How  bright  its  missionary  pictures! 
"  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  shall  become  the  king 
doms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ,"  "  Ask  of  me 
and  I  will  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance 
and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  posses 
sion."  "  I  will  gather  all  nations  and  tongues,  and 
cause  them  to  come  and  see  my  glory."  "  From 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  even  to  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  my  name  shall  be  great  among  the  Gentiles  ; 
and  in  every  place  shall  incense  be  offered  to  my 
name,  and  a  pure  offering."  "  The  mountain  of  the 
Lord's  house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the 
mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted  among  the  hills,  and 
all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it."  "  Ethiopia  shall 
stretch  forth  her  hands  unto  God."  "  The  isles  shall 
wait  for  his  law."  "  All  nations  shall  call  him 
blessed."  "  The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place 
shall  be  glad  for  them,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice 
and  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  shall  blossom  abun 
dantly,  and  rejoice  even  with  joy  and  singing." 
"  At  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  shall  bow,  and 
every  tongue  confess  that  he  is  Christ  to  the  glory 
of  God  the  Father."  "  For  the  earth  shall  be  filled 
with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea." 

The  time  is  to  come  when  the  earth  shall  present 
the  counterpart  of  these  bright  pictures ;  when  from 
every  spot  on  its  surface,  pure  offerings  shall  ascend 


PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

in  one  continuous  stream ;  and  our  globe,  "  as  it  rolls 
along  its  orbit,  shall  seem  but  a  censor  revolving  in 
the  hand  of  the  great  High-Priest,  and  pouring  out 
at  every  aperture  a  cloud,  dense  and  rich,  of  incense, 
fragrant  and  grateful  to  God." 

But  how  painful  the  contrast  between  what  the 
world  is  to  be  and  what  it  is  ! 

According  to  the  most  reliable  estimates,  our 
globe  is  peopled  by  one  thousand  millions  of  human 
beings.  Two  thirds  of  these,  or  about  seven  hun 
dred  millions,  are  pagans,  Mohammedans,  and  Jews ; 
of  the  latter  there  being  only  aoout  six  millions,  and 
of  the  Mohammedans  one  hundred  millions.  The 
remaining  three  hundred  millions  are  called  Chris 
tians  in  distinction  from  those  above  named.  But 
of  these  about  two  hundred  millions  are  Romanists,* 
while  some  fifty  millions  belong  to  the  Greek  Church  ; 
either  of  which  classes  can  be  considered  Christians 
only  in  name;  since,  whatever  may  be  said  of  occa 
sional  exceptions,  as  a  mass,  they  practically  conform 
but  too  closely,  in  religious  matters,  to  the  inhabi 
tants  of  heathen  lands. 

The  number  of  Protestants  in  the  world  is  esti 
mated  at  seventy  millions ;  which  includes  many 
sects  and  classes  in  whom,  it  is  feared,  exists  but  lit 
tle  of  vital  godliness.  Eighteen  years  since,  accept 
ing  the  calculation  of  Dr.  Samuel  Miller,!  only  about 
one  third  of  the  Protestant  population  of  the  world 


*  The  estimate  of  the  Pope  of  Rome  is  here  assumed,  although 
it  is  difficult  to  perceive  how  it  can  be  sustained.  See  Baird's 
Christian  Register,  1850. 

f  See  his  Serm.  at  26th  Ann.  of  A.  B.  C.  F.  Missions. 


A   PREMIUM  ESSAY.  13 

had  the  true  gospel  preached  among  them  in  any 
thing  like  its  purity.  Only  one  half  of  that  part 
called  evangelical,  were  even  professors  of  religion, 
in  any  distinct  or  intelligent  import  of  the  terms. 

Admitting  the  relative  proportion  to  have  remained 
substantially  the  same,  there  are  now  existing  in  the 
world,  upon  this  estimate,  but  about  twelve  millions 
who  make  any  intelligent  profession  of  piety.  What 
proportion  of  these  can  justly  claim  to  be  truly  pious, 
is  known  to  God  alone.  But  saying  nothing  of  this, 
is  not  the  spectacle  that  presents  itself  truly  appal 
ling  ?  Six  hundred  millions  of  human  beings  lying  in 
the  cold,  dark,  death-damps  of  heathenism,  and  soon 
to  go  down  to  the  darker  chambers  of  death ! 

Two  hundred  millions,  blindly  adhering  to  a  most 
fatal  system,  where  "  science  and  ignorance,  refine 
ment  and  barbarism,  wisdom  and  stupidity,  taste 
and  animalism,  mistaken  zeal  and  malignant  enmity, 
may  sanctimoniously  pour  out  their  virulence  against 
the  gospel,  and  cry,  Hosannah,  while  they  go  forth 
to  shed  the  blood,  and  to  wear  out  the  patience  of 
the  saints ! "  One  hundred  millions  deluded  by  that 
fell  imposture,  that  lifts  up  the  crescent  where  stood 
the  cross,  and  sheds  its  blight  upon  the  once  fairest 
and  most  favored  portions  of  the  earth,  and  millions 
of  others  who  have  the  form  of  godliness,  but  are 
wholly  destitute  of  its  power! 

And  this  in  the  last  half  of  the  nineteenth  century 
of  the  Christian  era !  Was  it  strange  that  the  Karen 
inquirer  should  ask  of  the  missionary,  "  If  so  long  time 
has  elapsed  since  the  crucifixion  of  Christ,  why  has 
not  this  good  news  reached  us  before  ?  Why  have 
2 


14  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

so  many  generations  of  our  fathers  gone  down  to 
hell  for  want  of  it  ?  "  May  it  not  be  a  matter  of 
astonishment  to  the  angels,  who  might  covet  the* 
privilege  of  heralding  the  good  tidings  to  all  the 
dwellers  on  the  earth,  as  of  old  to  the  few  shepherds 
upon  the  plains  of  Bethlehem  ?  Had  they  been 
commissioned  to  the  glorious  service,  how  quickly 
had  they  sped  on  silver  wings,  until  they  had  com 
passed  the  globe,  shouting  on  their  gladsome  way, 
"  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good-will  toward  men  ! " 

But  how  shall  we  account  for  the  fact,  that,  after 
eighteen  centuries  have  passed  away,  the  larger  pro 
portion  of  the  world  remains  covered  with  pagan 
darkness  ?  How  is  it,  that  although  it  is  now  sixty 
years  since  the  commencement  of  the  modern  mis 
sionary  movement,  the  mass  of  the  human  race  is 
unvisited  by  the  heralds  of  salvation?  The  cause 
cannot  be  found  in  any  supposed  pecuniary  inability 
on  the  part  of  the  Christian  church. 

The  entire  sum  of  money  contributed  annually  by 
the  churches  of  Great  Britain  for  foreign  missionary 
purposes,  is  about  two  millions  of  dollars ;  the  contri 
butions  of  the  American  churches,  of  all  denomina 
tions,  for  like  purposes,  do  not  exceed  eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Aggregate  contributions  from 
Great  Britain  and  America,  not  far  from  $ 2,800,000. 

But  let  us  confine  our  attention  to  American 
churches.  And  what  an  appalling  disproportion  do 
we  behold,  between  the  wealth  and  luxury  of  our 
country,  and  the  gifts  of  charity  for  furnishing  to  the 
heathen  the  word  of  life !  The  estimated  value  of 
the  real  and  personal  estate  of  the  inhabitants  of 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  15 

the  United  States,  is  $7,133,369,725.*  The  agricul 
tural  products,  in  four  articles  alone,  in  a  single  year 
amount  to  $358,423,323 ;  and  the  articles  produced 
annually  in  our  manufacturing  establishments,  (ex 
clusive  of  such  establishments  as  do  not  produce  to 
the  value  of  $500,)  is  $1,020,300,000  annually,  with 
a  profit  of  more  than  $230,000,000.  In  these  manu 
factures  the  sum  of  $240,000,000  is  paid  annually 
for  labor.  The  value  of  the  products  of  our  iron 
manufactures  alone  is  $54,604,006.  The  value  of 
gold  and  silver  coined  in  the  United  States  mint  and 
its  branches,  amounted  in  the  year  1852,  to  $57,896,- 
227,  and  in  1853,  to  $64,357,631. 

Now  it  is  computed  that  far  more  than  one  half 
of  the  wealth  and  products  of  this  country  are  in 
the  hands  of  the  friends  of  religion.  Admitting  this, 
how  absolutely  trifling  the  sum  devoted  by  the  dis 
ciples  of  Christ  to  the  cause  of  foreign  evangeliza 
tion,  when  viewed  in  the  light  of  their  real  ability ! 
How  much  more  insignificant  when  placed  beside 
the  millions  that  are  given  for  purposes  far  less 
worthy,  and,  indeed,  an  some  instances,  wholly  un 
worthy,  and  even  pernicious.  It  is  stated  that  more 
than  $1,500,000  are  annually  expended  in  the  thea 
tres  and  opera  houses  of  the  single  city  of  New 
York ;  and  that  that  sum  would  scarcely  cover  the 
cost  of  the  simple  article  of  imported  cigars.  An 
English  statistician  has  computed  that  the  labor 
ing  classes  of  Great  Britain  expend  no  less  than 
$250,000,000  every  year  for  alcoholic  liquors  and 


*  These  facts  are  mostly  gathered  from  the  census  returns  of 
1850. 


16  PBIMITIVE   PIETY   KEVIVED. 

tobacco.  The  estimate  does  not  include  the  money 
spent  for  the  same  object,  by  the  middle  and  upper 
classes,  as  they  are  called. 

The  entire  expense  attending  the  various  expedi 
tions  in  search  of  Sir  John  Franklin,  is  estimated  at 
$3,562,949. 

How  humiliating  the  contemplation  of  facts  like 
these !  Twice  the  whole  amount  of  contributions 
for  foreign  missions  from  American  Christians,  spent 
in  a  single  item  of  useless  or  sinful  indulgence,  by 
the  inhabitants  of  one  city !  More  than  three  hun 
dred  times  that  amount  expended  in  two  items  of 
the  same  nature,  by  the  poorer  classes  alone  of 
Great  Britain;  it  being  nearly  one  hundred  times 
the  amount  of  the  united  contributions  of  Christians 
in  England  and  America !  And  four  times  as  much 
money  expended  in  the  praiseworthy  attempt  to  res 
cue  a  few  lost  adventurers  from  temporal  death,  as 
all  the  American  Christians,  put  together,  are  invest 
ing  in  the  enterprise  for  saving  six  hundred  millions 
of  perishing  heathen  from  eternal  perdition  ! 

The  annual  gifts  of  Kallee's  Temple  at  Calcutta, 
are  scarcely  exceeded  in  amount  by  those  of  all  the 
Christians  in  America  and  Great  Britain.  The  be 
nighted  pagans  devoting  for  the  support  of  one 
heathen  temple,  nearly  as  much  as  all  these  professed 
followers  of  Jesus  are  contributing  to  impart  light  to 
those  who  sit  in  gross  darkness !  The  contributions 
of  the  Jews,  both  voluntary  and  prescribed,  for  the 
support  of  their  worship,  and  the  relief  of  their 
afflicted,  exhausted  one  third  of  their  annual  income 

If  the  adherents  of  a  purer  faith  were,  in  the  same 
ratio,  to  consecrate  of  their  substance  to  the  Lord, 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  17 

ho\v  few  years  would  elapse  before  the  citadel  of 
Satan  were  stormed  at  every  point !  But,  alas,  it  is 
millions  for  Mammon,  and  coppers  for  Christ !  Pounds 
to  earth,  &nd  farthings  to  heaven!  Navies  and  armies, 
as  a  devoted  missionary  of  the  cross  too  truly  ob 
serves,  have  their  millions ;  railroads  and  canals  have 
their  millions ;  silks,  carpets,  and  mirrors,  have  their 
millions;  parties  of  pleasure,  and  licentiousness  in 
high  life  and  low  life,  have  their  millions  :  and  what 
has  the  treasury  of  God  and  the  Lamb,  to  redeem  a 
world  of  souls  from  the  pains  of  eternal  damnation, 
and  to  fill  them  with  joys  unspeakable  ?  The  sum 
is  so  small  in  comparison,  that  one's  tongue  refuses 
to  utter  it !  * 

And  this  has  been  true,  let  it  be  borne  in  mind, 
during  a  period  of  unprecedented  prosperity  in  every 
branch  of  industry  and  enterprise ;  when  the  fields, 
and  the  mines,  and  the  shops,  and  the  ships,  and  the 
factories,  have  been  rolling  in  upon  their  owners  the 
most  generous  returns  for  labor  and  capital ;  when 
the  discovery  of  exhaustless  deposits  of  the  precious 
metals  has  thrown  into  our  lap  more  than  two  hun 
dred  millions  of  dollars;  when  a  million  of  square 
miles  of  territory  have  been  added  to  our  domain, 
when  wealthy  farmers,  and  heavy  bankers,  and  ex 
tensive  manufacturers,  and  opulent  capitalists,  and 
fortunate  adventurers,  have  been  rapidly  multiplying; 
and  tens  of  thousands  had  become  rich  who  but  lately, 
barely  met  the  common  necessities  of  life;  when, 
in  short,  we  were  fast  becoming  the  most  wealthy, 
as  we  are  in  danger  of  becoming  the  most  luxurious 

*  Rev.  Sheldon  Dibble,  Missionary  to  Sandwich  Islands. 

2* 


18  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

nation  on  the  globe ;  and  but  for  God's  restraining 
grace,  and  the  counteracting  influence  of  charitable 
claims,  were  sure  of  plunging  into  the  gulf  of  world- 
liness  and  folly,  which  has  swallowed  up  so  many 
nations  before  us. 

The  truth  is,  that  Christians  are  now  contributing 
almost  nothing,  compared  with  their  real  ability. 
They  are  scarcely  bestowing  the  crumbs  which  fall 
from  their  tables,  for  meeting  the  direst  necessities 
of  the  poor  heathen.  Taken  as  a  body,  (for  there 
are  individual  exceptions,)  they  are  giving  but  a  drop 
from  the  ocean  of  their  plenty,  but  a  particle  from 
the  world  of  their  abundance.  The  paltry  sum  of 
twenty  cents  per  year  is  the  average  of  the  present 
contributions  from  the  members  of  the  evangelical 
churches  in  the  United  States  for  foreign  mission 
purposes.  Were  they  to  contribute,  severally,  the 
small  amount  of  one  dollar  per  year,  (two  cents  per 
week,)  a  sum  greater  by  a  million  of  dollars  than  that 
now  raised  by  the  entire  churches  of  England  and 
America,  would  be  secured. 

But  if  the  cause  of  the  slow  progress  of  foreign 
evangelization  is  not  discoverable  in  the  material,  is 
it  in  the  numerical  strength  of  the  Christian  church  ? 

Most  certainly  not;  as  is  obvious,  if  from  no 
other  considerations,  from  the  triumphant  progress 
of  Christianity  in  primitive  times.  How  few  were 
the  disciples  of  our  Lord,  who,  fifty  days  after  his 
crucifixion,  began  in  earnest  to  execute  their  com 
mission,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature ! " 

Almost  immediately,  as  the  result  of  the  preached 
word,  the  one  hundred  and  twenty  received  an  ac- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  19 

cession  of  about  three  thousand  souls.  We  shortly 
read  that  they  numbered  five  thousand,  and  within  a 
year  and  a  half,  multitudes  had  received  the  truth, 
"  and  a  great  company  of  the  priests  were  obedient 
to  the  faith."  "  And  at  that  time  there  was  a  great 
persecution  against  the  church  which  was  at  Jerusa 
lem,  and  they  were  all  scattered  abroad  throughout 
the  regions  of  Judea  and  Samaria,  except  the 
Apostles."*  They  went  everywhere  preaching  the 
word ;  and  in  less  time  than  has  elapsed  since  the 
first  modern  mission  was  established  in  India,  that 
word  had  been  successfully  proclaimed  throughout 
all  Palestine,  and  Asia  Minor,  and  Macedonia,  and 
Greece,  along  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  in  the  Islands 
of  the  ^Egean  Sea,  in  Egypt,  and  Rome,  and,  if  the 
traditions  of  the  fathers  be  accepted  on  this  point, 
even  in  India  and  Spain.  Justin,  the  Martyr,  who 
was  beheaded  in  Rome,  A.  D.  165,  furnishes  this  re 
markable  testimony  concerning  the  triumphs  of  the 
Christian  religion :  "  There  is  not  a  nation,  either  of 
Greek,  or  barbarian,  or  any  other  name,  even  of 
those  who  wander  in  tribes,  or  live  in  tents,  among 
whom  prayers  and  thanksgivings  are  not  offered  to 
the  Father  and  Creator  of  the  universe  in  the  name 
of  the  crucified  Jesus."  And  Clemens  of  Alexan 
dria,  speaking  of  the  gospel,  says,  it  "  is  spread 
through  the  whole  world,  in  every  town  and  village 
and  city,  converting  both  whole  houses  and  separate 
individuals."  If  such  results  attended  the  efforts  of 
the  few  primitive  disciples,  who  had  in  the  main, 
neither  wealth  nor  learning  nor  influence  ;  who  had 

*  Acts  8 :  1. 


20 


PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 


not  the  press  to  bring  to  their  aid ;  and  who  were 
obliged  to  encounter  all  kinds  and  degrees  of  opposi 
tion,  what  might  not  have  been  accomplished  by  the 
millions  of  Christ's  followers  in  our  day,  had  they 
possessed  the  same  spirit  which  those  early  Chris 
tians  possessed !  We  are  compelled  to  believe  that 
they  have  not  possessed  it,  and  do  not  now  possess 
it.  And  here  is  found  the  true  cause  of  the  surpris 
ing  delay  in  sending  to  all  nations  the  word  of  eter 
nal  life.  How  painful  an  evidence  of  serious  defects 
in  the  piety  of  our  day ! 

There  is  another  point  in  evidence,  to  the  same 
effect,  which  cannot  now  be  noticed.  It  is  the  lim 
ited  success  of  the  gospel  in  Christian  lands. 

A  convert  from  heathenism,  on  visiting  this  coun 
try  and  addressing  a  large  assembly,  assumed  in  his 
remarks  that  they  were  all  Christians.  He  was 
informed  of  his  mistake ;  and  with  tearful  surprise 
assured  his  teacher  who  accompanied  him,  that  he 
supposed  all  the  people  in  America  loved  the  Saviour. 
He  wondered  how  it  was  that  they  did  not,  since 
they  had  all  of  them  so  long  ago  heard  of  Jesus,  and 
there  were  so  many  to  teach  them  the  gospel.  This, 
perhaps,  was  a  reasonable  expectation;  but  how 
wide  from  the  actual  reality! 

The  present  population  of  the  United  States  can 
not  be  less  than  some  twenty-six  millions.*  The 
members  of  churches  in  connection  with  the  different 
religious  denominations  in  'the  country,  amount  to 
three  million  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six  thousand 

*The  population  in  1850,  was  23,198,817.    See  Census  Report. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  21 

three  hundred  and  nineteen,*  or  about  one  seventh 
of  the  whole  population.  But  of  these,  considering 
the  errors  of  life  and  of  faith,  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
even  in  the  judgment  of  charity,  that  very  many  are 
only  professedly  Christians.  How  small  the  propor 
tion  of  those  truly  converted,  even  in  this  highly 
favored  land !  And  of  those  who  possess  not  godli 
ness,  how  many  are  they  who  openly  oppose  all 
religion,  or  are  the  deluded  subjects  of  the  "  man  of 
sin ! "  How  many  portions  of  our  country  are  yet 
even  unsupplied  with  the  preached  gospel ! 

Not  to  one  part  of  our  land,  but  to  many  parts, 
would  apply  the  language  of  one  who  thus  writes 
from  a  rising  State  in  the  north-west :  "  Romanism 
is  here  fortifying  his  strong-holds,  Rationalism  is  here 
striving  for  the  mastery,  and  cold  blank  Atheism  is 
here,  hoping  for  the  realization  of  its  cheerless 
dreams  —  a  land  without  her  Sabbaths,  her  minis 
ters,  her  Bible,  or  her  God."  And  in  deploring  the 
destitution  of  the  means  of  grace,  he  says,  "  There 
are,  in  this  State,  sixty-five  thousand  children  and 
youth  without  any  religious  instruction  whatever." 

A  prominent  minister  of  the  gospel  recently 
affirmed  that  even  in  Ohio  there  were  fifty  towns, 
with  an  average  population  of  eight  hundred  each, 
almost  entirely  without  any  kind  of  preaching  ;  and 
two  uneducated  circuit  riders  are  declared  to  be  the 
only  preachers  in  a  large  western  county,  larger  than 
the  entire  State  of  Rhode  Island.  It  is  affirmed,  on 


*  This  estimate  is  taken  from  the  Presbyterian  Almanac  for 
1854,  and  is,  probably,  as  accurate  as  can  be  obtained.  Of  course, 
the  Roman  Catholics  are  not  included  in  the  estimate. 


22  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

good  authority,  that  less  than  one  third  of  the  popu 
lation  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Iowa 
is  under  the  direct  influence  of  any  evangelical 
instruction.* 

And  what  shall  be  said  of  those  parts  of  the  coun 
try  best  supplied  with  the  means  of  grace?  It  is 
not  generally  known  to  what  an  alarming  extent 
those  means  of  grace  are  disregarded.  Even  in  New 
England,  where  the  religious  element  so  largely 
obtains,  competent  witnesses  testify  that  fully  one 
third  of  the  families  neglect  the  sanctuary.f  The 
state  of  things  in  large  cities,  in  this  respect,  is 
alarming.  A  writer  in  England,  of  great  reputa 
tion,  says,  "  The  town  in  which  I  live  contains,  with 
its  suburbs,  about  two  hundred  and  ten  thousand 
inhabitants ;  and  of  these,  perhaps  not  more  than 
forty  thousand,  above  twelve  years  of  age,  are  ever 
at  public  worship  at  the  same  time."  This  he  states 
to  be  but  a  specimen  of  other  large  towns. 

It  is  computed  that  one  million  and  a  half  of  per 
sons  in  London  do  not  attend  any  place  of  worship, 
and  never  hear  the  sound  of  the  gospel  unless  it  is 
carried  to  their  doors.  From  the  Census  Returns  of 
England  in  1851,  it  appears  that  probably  four  mill 
ions  of  the  people  of  that  country  never  attend  pub 
lic  worship.  $ 

*  For  several  of  these  facts  and  others  of  a  similar  nature,  see  a 
publication  of  Am.  Tract  Soc.,  called  "  Home  Evangelization." 

f  See  "  Home  Evangelization,"  p.  26. 

J  Mr.  Cobden,  in  a  recent  speech  at  Manchester,  stated  that 
this  class  of  persons  will  now  number  Jive  millions;  and  that  there 
are  a  million  of  heads  of  families,  who  are  not  connected  with  any 
place  of  worship  whatsoever. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  23 

The  cities  of  our  own  country  present  facts 
scarcely  less  painful  to  contemplate.  A  religious 
paper  in  New  England,*  speaking  of  Concord,  N.  H., 
asserts  that  that  city  contains  a  larger  proportion  of 
church-going  people  than  the  average  of  its  neigh 
boring  cities  and  agricultural  towns,  but  that  out  of 
its  ten  thousand  inhabitants,  three  thousand  seldom 
if  ever  enter  any  place  of  worship  on  the  Sabbath. 
It  believes  "  that  more  than  one  third  of  her  popula 
tion  are  without  the  pale  of  the  saving  influence  of 
the  gospel." 

Statistics  carefully  prepared  have  demonstrated 
that  scarcely  one  fourth  of  the  inhabitants  of  Phila 
delphia  are  regular  attendants  upon  any  religious  ser 
vices.  It  is  stated,  upon  the  authority  of  the  New 
York  City  Tract  Society,  that  there  are  in  that  city 
two  hundred  thousand  persons  who  are  not  only  not 
regular,  but  not  even  occasional  attendants  upon 
public  worship.  This  is  one  third  of  her  whole  pop 
ulation.  Taking  our  country  as  a  whole,  it  is 
believed  by  those  best  qualified  to  judge,  that  not 
far  from  one  half  of  the  entire  population  habitually 
neglect  the  sanctuary,  or  hear  "  another  gospel." 

Let  us  take  another  view  of  the  subject,  and  in 
quire  as  to  the  numerical  strength  of  the  churches  of 
our  land.  They  are  but  slowly  increasing  in  num 
bers.  The  total  membership  of  all  the  different  de 
nominations  in  1844,  was  about  3,050,950.  In  the 
last  ten  years,  therefore,  there  has  been  a  gain  of  but 
about  715,000;  which  is  less  than  twenty -four  per 
centum.  In  that  time  the  Roman  Catholics  have 

*  The  Congregational  Journal. 


24  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

increased,  in  the  membership,  about  one  hundred  per 
centum ;  and  in  the  churches  and  priests,  one  hundred, 
and  seventy  per  centum.  Forty  years  ago  they  num 
bered,  in  this  country,  but  eighty  churches  and  sixty- 
eight  priests  ;  now  they  report  1,712  churches,  1,574 
priests,  and  a  membership  of  more  than  1,732,600, 
with  twenty-five  incorporated  colleges,  and  twenty- 
nine  theological  seminaries.* 

It  thus  appears  that  the  ratio  of  increase  on  the 
part  of  Romanists  for  the  last  ten  years,  has  been 
more  than  than  four  times  greater  than  that  of  evan 
gelical  Christians. 

The  increase  of  population  in  the  United  States, 
for  the  ten  years  next  preceding  1850,  was  at  the 
rate  of  about  thirty-five  per  centum.  Hence  the 
Roman  Catholic  ratio  of  increase,  is  sixty-five  per 
cent,  greater  than  that  of  the  population  of  the 
United  States,  while  the  comparative  ratio  of  evan 
gelical  Christians  is  eleven  per  cent,  less  ! 

Descending  from  this  general  survey  to  particular 
churches  and  localities,  considerations  no  less  humil 
iating  present  themselves.  Is  it  not  a  remarkable 
fact  that  many  large  and  wealthy  churches  are  re 
ceiving  almost  no  additions,  and  scarcely  repairing, 
from  year  to  year,  the  losses  which  they  sustain? 
Upon  an  examination  of  the  minutes  of  an  evangeli 
cal  body  in  one  of  our  flourishing  States,  the  follow 
ing  statistics  of  two  large  churches,  the  one  in  the 
country,  the  other  in  a  city,  are  noted :  country 
church,  1843,  members,  223;  1853,  198;  loss,  25: 


*  These  statistics  are  drawn  from  the  "  Metropolitan  Catholic 
Almanac  and  Laity's  Directory."    Baltimore,  1854. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  25 

city  church,  1843,  248 ;  1853,  221 ;  loss,  27.  Turning 
to  the  records  of  another  body,  and  marking  the 
progress  of  the  most  prominent  church  in  another 
large  city,  it  appears  that  in  seven  years  its  member 
ship  has  increased  at  the  average  of  one  for  each 
year.  Now  from  these  three  churches,  which  are 
selected  only  as  specimens  of  hundreds  in  the  same 
condition,  no  new  colonies  have  been  sent  out  dur 
ing  the  terms  specified,  nor  have  they  encountered 
any  special  adverse  influences.  And  yet,  with  an 
aggregate  of  1,000  members,  and  appearing  in  a 
prosperous  condition,  they  have  actually  decreased 
in  the  time  specified  by  forty-five  members. 

But  passing  from  particular  churches,  let  us  ex 
amine  the  statistics  of  several  of  the  principal  evan 
gelical  denominations  in  the  "  Metropolis  of  the 
Union,"  the  city  of  New  York.  In  1843,  there  were 
of  communicants  in  the  O.  S.  Presbyterian  denomi 
nation  3,752 ;  in  1853,  4,319  ;  gain  in  the  ten  years, 
567.  Of  N.  S.  Presbyterians  in  1843,  7,677;  in 
1853,  6,770  ;  loss,  907.  Of  Baptists  in  1843,  7,997 ; 
in  1853,  8,693 ;  gain,  696.  Of  Methodist  Episcopal 
in  1843,  9,780;  in  1853,  9,319;  loss,  461. 

Total  loss  of  these  denominations  in  ten  years, 
105.*  And  yet  the  population  of  New  York  City 

*  These  statements,  however  surprising,  may  be  accepted  as 
perfectly  reliable.  They  are  based  upon  the  writer's  personal  and 
careful  investigations.  The  Eeformed  Dutch  and  Protestant 
Methodist  churches  are  not  included  because  of  the  difficulty  in 
obtaining  accurate  statistics.  The  Congregational  churches,  so 
numerous  in  New  England,  have  sprung  up  in  New  York,  with 
one  exception,  since  1843.  Of  these,  there  are  now  eight 
churches  with  a  membership  of  1,274.  —  See  "Congregational 
Year-Book." 

3 


26  PKIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

has  doubled  itself  in  those  same  ten  years !  Are  not 
such  facts  absolutely  appalling  ?  The  population  of 
a  mighty  city,  in  the  heart  of  the  commonwealth, 
increasing  in  so  rapid  a  ratio,  and  yet  evangelical 
Christians,  in  point  of  numbers,  not  only  not  increas 
ing,  but  scarcely  holding  their  oivn  !  And  that,  too, 
when  vice  is  every  day  more  rampant,  —  when  infi 
delity,  among  the  Germans  alone,  numbers  its 
50,000  adherents,  —  when  intemperance  is  more  than 
a  match  for  the  prodigious  influence  brought  to  bear 
against  it,  —  when  licentiousness  has  its  2,500  broth 
els,  and  25,000  abandoned  women,  —  and  when  a 
leading  religious  journal,  in  allusion  to  a  particular 
locality  in  the  city,  has  said  of  one  miserable  habita 
tion  what  might  with  equal  justice  be  said  of  hun 
dreds  of  others  :  "  Every  room  is  swarming.  Upon 
the  floor  is  stretched  the  young  and  the  old,  the 
black  and  the  white,  the  sick  and  the  sinning  —  all 
in  one  promiscuous  sty !  Here  the  beggar  brings  his 
refuse  food,  and  the  prowling  footpad  his  spoils,  and 
the  poor  diseased  child  of  sin  her  booty  purchased 
by  the  price  of  her  good  name,  and  ultimately  of 
life  itself.  Here  they  grovel;  here  they  drug  their 
consciences  in  alcoholic  poisons;  here  they  linger 
out  their  only  life  on  earth ;  and  when  the  abused 
and  profaned  and  wretched  frame  can  bear  up  no 
longer,  here  they  die,  and  the  pauper's  grave  receives 
their  last  loathsome  relics !  And  all  this  within  the 
sound  of  a  hundred  church  bells !  All  this  within 
hail  of  city  schools  with  their  open  doors,  and  of 
ten  thousand  Christian  homes  with  their  household 
altars." 

How  far  this  description  of  the  state  of  things  in 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  27 

one  city  is  applicable  to  others,  it  is  impossible  to 
state.  But  if  the  actual  and  relative  progress  of 
evangelical  religion  is  elsewhere  at  all  in  this  ratio,  — 
which  there  is,  alas,  too  much  reason  for  believing  to 
be  the  case,  —  it  is,  most  truly,  a  sad  commentary 
upon  the  present  rendering  of  Christianity  into  the 
character  and  lives  of  its  professors. 

From  the  facts  now  submitted,  what  is  the  inevi 
table  conclusion  ?  Is  it  not  obviously  this  ?  The 
piety  of  the  present  day  has  widely  degenerated  from 
the  divine  standard.  Can  these  facts  be  accounted 
for  on  any  other  supposition?  Look  at  them  in 
their  connection.  Christian  men,  of  all  denomina 
tions  and  all  countries,  are  deeply  impressed  with 
the  painful  conviction  that  this  is  the  case.  On 
every  hand  it  is  reluctantly,  but  openly,  acknowl 
edged.  The  totally  inadequate  supply  of  Christian 
ministers  confirms  the  correctness  of  this  general 
impression ;  as  does  also  the  trifling  amount  of  prop 
erty  consecrated  to  the  dissemination  of  the  gospel 
in  heathen  lands.  An  amount,  let  it  be  remembered, 
not  only  exceedingly  small  compared  with  what 
might  be  realized,  (and  \vithout  the  sacrifice  of  any 
necessary,  or  even  comfort  of  life,)  but  gathered  at  a 
time  when  the  knowledge  of  the  actual  condition  of 
un evangelized  nations  is  generally  spread  among  the 
churches,  thereby  rendering  inexcusable  their  inac 
tivity,  and  gathered,  too,  not  without  great  labor  and 
expense.  And  at  the  same  time,  the  conversion  of 
men  in  Christian  lands  progresses  but  slowly,  the 
"  broad  way  being  still  the  thronged  way."  Is  there 
any  method  of  accounting  for  these  strange  phenom 
ena,  we  again  ask,  but  that  herein  assumed  ?  If  even 


PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

a  close  approximation  to  the  piety  of  New  Testament 
times,  in  kind  and  degree,  obtained  among  the 
churches,  how  different  the  moral  aspect  of  the 
world ! 

But  it  may  be  replied,  Are  not  the  churches  care 
ful  to  maintain  a  sound  faith  and  a  wholesome  dis 
cipline  ?  And  are  they  not  discovering  a  commend 
able  degree  of  liberality  in  many  of  the  benevolent 
enterprises  of  the  day  ?  Are  not  colleges  and  semi 
naries  being  endowed,  and  houses  of  worship  built 
for  feeble  congregations  ?  And  in  the  social  arrange 
ments,  and  external  accommodations  of  the  churches, 
is  there  not  much  to  approve  and  admire? 

This  is  cheerfully  and  thankfully  conceded.  Con 
siderations  like  these  essentially  relieve  the  picture 
of  some  of  its  darJter  aspects.  For  these,  and  many 
other  indications  of  good,  let  us  thank  God  and  take 
courage.  They  give  promise  of  a  brighter  day  yet 
to  come.  They  animate  the  hope  that  the  cloud 
shall  be  lifted  from  off  the  church,  that  her  light  shall 
come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  arise  upon  her. 
Yes  ;  notwithstanding  all  the  imperfections  that  now 
adhere  to  her,  the  bride  of  Christ  shall  yet "  look  forth 
as  the  morning,  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun, 
and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners." 

But  while  it  becomes  us  to  entertain  a  hopeful 
view  of  the  future,  and  recognize  with  gratitude  all 
that  which  is  praiseworthy  in  the  present,  it  should 
not  be  forgotten  that  man  is  liable  to  be  deceived 
from  the  outward  appearance,  while  "  the  Lord  look- 
eth  on  the  heart."  An  individual  may  appear  to  be 
in  good  health,  while  some  deadly  disease  is  preying 
upon  the  system.  A  church  may  have  a  name  to 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  29 

live,  may  have  a  reputation  for  being  alive,  while  it 
is,  truly,  dead.  "  Thou  hast  a  name  that  thou  livest, 
and  art  dead,"  said  Christ,  through  his  servant,  to 
the  church  in  Sardis. 

The  body  of  an  individual  may  be  in  an  unsound 
condition  when  he  himself  is  not  aware  of  it.  And 
so  an  individual  Christian,  or  a  church,  may  fall  into 
an  unconscious  decline.  Said  the  prophet  of  old  con 
cerning  the  kingdom  of  Israel,  "  Strangers  hath 
devoured  his  strength,  and  he  knoweth  it  not ;  yea, 
gray  hairs  are  here  and  there  upon  him,  yet  he 
knoweth  it  not."  The  church  in  Laodicea  was 
ready  to  say,  "  I  am  rich  and  increased  with  goods, 
and  have  need  of  nothing ; "  but,  in  fact,  it  was 
"  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and 
naked." 

"  How  many  individuals  and  churches,"  says  one, 
"  are  not  only  flattering  themselves  that  they  are  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  but  imposing  upon  others 
with  the  same  delusion.  The  place  of  worship  may 
be  commodious,  elegant,  and  free  from  debt,  —  the 
minister  popular,  and  approved  by  his  flock,  —  the 
congregation  large,  respectable,  and  influential, — 
the  communicants  numerous  and  harmonious,  —  the 
finances  good,  and  even  prosperous, — the  collections 
for  public  institutions  liberal  and  regular;  in  short, 
there  may  be  every  mark  of  external  prosperity,  till  the 
church  flatters  itself,  and  is  flattered  by  others,  into 
the  idea  of  its  being  in  a  high  state  of  spiritual 
health.  It  has  (  a  name  to  live.'  But  now  examine  its 
internal  state,  —  inquire  into  its  condition  as  viewed 
by  God, — inspect  the  private  conduct  of  its  members, 
and  ask  for  the  accession  of  such  as  shall  be  saved  ; 

3* 


30  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

and  what  a  different  aspect  of  things  is  seen  then. 
How  low  is  the  spirit  of  devotion,  as  evinced  by  the 
neglect  of  the  meetings  for  social  prayers;  by  the 
omissions  in  many  households  of  family  prayer,  and 
by  the  heartless  and  irregular  manner  in  which  it  is 
maintained  in  others ;  and  by  the  giving  up,  in  numer 
ous  cases,  of  private  prayer.  ****** 

"  Let  a  stranger,  of  devotional  taste,  and  spiritual 
affection,  and  tenderness  of  conscience,  enter  into 
the  families  and  frequent  the  parties  of  such  a  con 
gregation,  and  what  a  destitution  would  he  find  of 
the  vitality  of  religion!  Under  the  deceptive  appear 
ance  of  a  large  and  flourishing  assembly,  an  eloquent 
preacher,  and  an  air  of  general  respectability  and 
satisfaction  on  a  Sabbath  day  in  the  sanctuary,  what 
a  deadness  of  heart  would  he  find ;  what  a  prevail 
ing  worldliness ! " 

The  most  distressing  features  in  this  descrip 
tion  are  its  obvious  truthfulness,  and  its  breadth  of 
application.  The  material  condition  of  the  churches 
of  our  country  was  never  as  good  as  at  this  very  day. 
In  some  of  the  elements  of  influence,  intelligence, 
and  property,  there  has  been,  of  late,  a  rapid  and 
steady  increase. 

But  the  divine  injunction,  "  let  him  that  standeth 
take  heed  lest  he  fall,"  is  as  applicable  to  churches 
as  to  individuals.  Prosperity  is  always  accompanied 
with  danger.  A  church  is  just  as  liable  to  be 
injured  by  riches  as  an  individual;  for  what  is  a 
church  but  an  aggregation  of  individuals  ?  If  a  man 
come  into  possession  of  wealth,  we  are  accustomed 
to  regard  it  as  highly  probable  that  he  may  become 
indolent  and  inactive,  perhaps  self-conceited  and 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  31 

regardless  of  those  in  humbler  circumstances  than 
himself.  But  is  not  the  fact  too  generally  lost  sight 
of,  that  competence  is  the  parent  of  inactivity  and 
pride,  as  well  in  churches  as  individuals  ?  The 
prophet  Jeremiah  says  of  Moab,  he  "  hath  been  at 
ease  from  his  youth,  and  he  hath  settled  on  his  lees." 
Is  not  the  figure  applicable  to  many  religious  socie 
ties,  especially  those  that  are  possessed  of  numbers 
and  wealth  ?  Else  how  can  we  account  for  the 
remarkable  fact  that  more  conversions  are  reported 
in  connection  with  the  smaller  than  the  larger 
churches  ?  In  the  one  case,  the  force  of  circumstan 
ces  induces  untiring  activity,  which  is  not  only  the 
result,  but  often  the  cause  of  spiritual  health.  In  the 
other,  there  being  no  ever-present  stimulus  urging  to 
continuous  personal  effort,  a  living,  working  faith 
declined,  and  the  body,  though  outwardly  prosper 
ous,  is  alarmingly  destitute  of  vitality  and  power. 
It  is  much  less  difficult  to  maintain  an  outward  than 
an  inward  religion ;  much  less  congenial  to  the  par 
tially  sanctified  heart,  to  serve  God  in  person^  than 
by  proxy.  It  requires  much  less  vigilance  to  main 
tain  a  sound  creed  than  a  sound  heart.  And  pre 
cisely  in  this  direction  lies  our  chief  danger.  We 
are  liable  to  mistake  the  means  for  the  end ;  the 
material  for  the  spiritual. 

Benevolent  organizations,  "Church  Order,"  "  Church 
Architecture,"  "  Church  Extension,"  —  all  have  their 
importance.  They  are,  however,  but  the  scaffolding 
of  the  spiritual  temple.  Or,  to  change  the  figure, 
they  are  but  the  machinery  in  accomplishing  the 
great  work  of  Christian  edification,  and  the  conver 
sion  of  souls.  We  may  perfect  tho  machinery  as 


32  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

much  as  we  will,  may  improve  our  Sunday  school, 
educational  and  missionary  organizations,  —  build 
commodious  and  tasteful  sanctuaries  for  ourselves 
and  for  others,  —  may  remove  errors  and  imperfec 
tions  from  our  articles  of  faith,  and  church-discipline  ; 
and  yet,  behind  this  complete  organism,  there  must 
be  the  mighty  motive  power  of  a  hidden  interior  life, 
or  all  is  fruitless  and  vain.  These  are  not  the  chief 
good  ;  they  are  simply  the  means  to  an  end.  All  this 
is  but  preparatory  work.  Something  yet  lies  beyond 
this,  to  gain  which  should  be  the  grand  ultimate 
aim  ;  even  growth  in  grace,  and  the  leading  of  souls 
to  Christ. 

The  machinery  should  be  perfect  to  do  execution ; 
not  that  it  may  be  exhibited  and  admired.  The 
sanctuary  should  be  properly  constructed  that  the 
Shekinah  may  rest  there,  and  the  divine  power  and 
glory  be  there  displayed ;  not  simply  to  gratify  taste, 
and  answer  instead  of  a  broken  heart  and  a  contrite 
spirit  on  the  part  of  the  worshipper.  Let  care  be 
taken  as  to  the  material  building,  but  let  more  con 
cern  be  felt  that  the  temple  within  be  of  "lively 
stones,"  built  for  God.  Let  Christian  men  earn 
money  for  Cnrist.  Let  the  rich  neither  give  "  the 
widow's  mite,"  nor  suffer  their  noblest  offerings  to 
excuse  them  from  the  cultivation  of  personal  religion, 
and  direct  efforts  to  save  the  perishing  around  them. 
Let  a  sound  faith,  and  a  consistent  life,  and  outward 
benevolence,  be  but  the  substantial  evidence  of  a 
deep-seated,  vigorous  piety  within.  Let  these  things 
obtain,  and  all  will  be  well.  Happy  were  we  did 
they  obtain!  Most  happy  if  there  were  no  real 
occasion  fof  admonitions  like  these !  But  the  times 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  33 

imperatively  call  for  such  admonitions,  since  many 
are  being  deceived  by  the  illusive  covering  of  an 
external  prosperity ;  and  do  not  imagine  that  these 
outward  indications,  on  the  part  of  churches  and 
individuals,  may  often  be  but  "  as  the  flowers  which 
bloom  in  a  shallow  and  sandy  soil." 

We  are  compelled  to  adhere,  therefore,  to  the 
painful  conclusion  already  stated,  that  the  prevailing 
piety  of  the  present  day  is  seriously  defective ;  that 
a  worldly  spirit  bars  taken  possession,  to  a  great  ex 
tent,  of  the  Christian  church,  and  driven  out  the 
sincere,  Christlike  spirit,  that  should  characterize 
the  saints  of  the  Most  High.  And  until  there  is  a 
return  of  that  spirit,  it  is  in  vain  that  we  expect  the 
world's  conversion.  That  blessed  work  will  not 
reach  its  consummation  for  many  thousands  of  years 
yet  to  come,  at  the  present  rate  of  progress  of  genu 
ine  Christianity. 

There  must  be  a  vast  augmentation  of  moral 
power  in  the  sacramental  host  of  the  Lord.  The 
churches  must  become  vastly  more  aggressive  in 
their  operations,  —  vastly  more  intent  upon  execut 
ing  the  sublime  commission  of  the  ascended  Re 
deemer. 

Indeed  the  whole  style  of  Christian  character  must 
be  greatly  modified,  and  vitalized,  before  Zion  shall 
have  put  on  her  strength,  and  having  power  in  her 
self,  shall  have  power  upon  the  world. 

The  question  as  to  ivhat  are  the  particular  defects 
which  most  weaken  her  strength,  opens  a  subject  to 
be  hereafter  carefully  considered. 


CHAPTER   II. 

FIRST    GRAND    DEFECT    OF    THE   PREVAILING   PIETY   OF    THE 
TIMES  —  A  WANT    OF    SIMPLICITY   OF   PURPOSE. 

The  "  Single  Eye."  —  The  True  Aim.  —  "  Why  am  I  here  ?  "  —  A  priori 
Argument.  —  Scripture  View.  —  Why  converted.  —  Christ  a  Model  of 
Simplicity  of  Purpose.  —  Imitated  by  Early  Disciples.  —  Existing  want 
of  Unity  of  Object.  —Vocation  not  comprehended.—  Eage  for  Money.— 
Why  is  Wealth  sought  ?  —  Divorce  of  Eeligion  and  Business.  —  Sacrifice 
to  Self.  —  Perils  of  Active  Pursuits.  —  Piety  and  Worldly  Care  not  an 
tagonistic.  —  Examples.  —  "  My  Business  Trade."  —  Varied  Services, 
one  End.  —  Gem  from  Flavel.  —  Guilt  of  living  for  Unworthy  Objects. 

—  Return  of  Ancient  Times.  —  Christ's  Life  reproduced.  —  Glorious 
Results.  —  CaU  for  Reform.  — Duty  of  Parents.  —  Duty  of  Ministers. 

—  Appeal. 

A  SINGLE  stroke  of  the  Apostolic  pen  had  laid 
bare  a  great  principle  in  the  religious  system :  "  He 
that  giveth,  let  him  do  it  with  simplicity."  Let  him 
bestow  it  without  partiality,  or  vain  ostentatio  : 
"  without  seeking  the  applause  of  men,  or  any  otbt  . 
sinister  end."  Let  him  do  it  solely  to  accomplish  ihe 
one  proper  object. 

The  writer  who  communicated  this  divine  injunc 
tion,  rejoiced  in  the  testimony  of  his  conscience, 
"that  in  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity"  he  had  had 
his  conversation  among  the  brethren.  He  had  not 
been  among  them  to  accomplish  many,  and  selfish 
purposes,  but  to  gain  one  single  end.  His  affections 

(34) 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  35 

and  energies  were  not  divided  between  "  God  and 
Mammon,"  but,  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  our 
Saviour's  instructions,  the  "  eye  "  was  "  single,"  and 
"the  whole  body  full'of  light."  Not  two  or  more 
objects,  and  in  a  dim,  confused  light,  were  present 
before  him,  as  before  a  disordered  or  imperfect  eye, 
but  one,  clearly  discerned  object,  at  which  he  stead 
fastly  aimed.  And  this  was  the  secret  of  the 
Apostle's  success.  It  is  the  key  to  all  success ;  for, 
by*  a  known  law  of  the  mind,  its  full  energies  are 
never  put  forth  unless  the  object  be  single. 

But  what  is  the  true  aim  of  life  ?  What  one  end 
should  man  desire  to  accomplish  ?  It  is  obvious  that 
God  must  have  had  some  one  great  object  in  view, 
in  the  creation  of  man.  He  has  made  nothing  in 
vain.  Each  little  grain  of  dust,  each  rock,  each  rill, 
each  river,  each  spire  of  grass,  each  tree ;  each  living 
thing,  from  the  mite  to  the  mammoth,  the  man  to 
the  angel,  was  designed  to  answer  some  end,  to  fill 
some  niche  in  the  great  temple  of  creation. 

And  yet  how  few  comprehend  the  design  of  their 
creation !  "  It  is  to  be  lamented,"  said  Sir  Thomas 
Smith,  in  connection  with  his  dying  request,  "  that 
men  know  not  to  what  end  they  were  born  into  the 
world,  until  they  are  ready  to  go  out  of  it."  How 
few  even  interrogate  themselves  as  to  the  end  for 
which  they  were  made!  "Why  am  I  here?"  "For 
what  was  I  created  ? "  "  Why  am  I  kept  in  exist 
ence?"  are  questions  which  most  men  never  seri 
ously  consider.  They  find  themselves  in  the  world, 
and  yielding  to  the  force  of  circumstances,  and  cast 
ing  the  reins  upon  the  neck  of  their  propensities, 
they  saunter  or  toil ;  eat,  drink,  sleep,  and  die ;  having 


36  PEIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

no  more  lived  for  any  one  definite  purpose  than  the 
bearded  goat  that  browses  the  mountain  shrub,  or 
the  gay  butterfly  that  sucks  honey  from  the  summer 
flower. 

How  strange !  As  if  an  ocean  steamer,  without 
pilot  or  rudder,  but  driven  by  her  giant  enginery, 
were  ploughing  the  deep,  and  thundering  on  her 
way,  but  bearing  no  special  cargo,  and  bound  to  no 
particular  port  !  As  if  an  angel  were  coursing 
hither  and  thither  through  the  heavens,  not  knowing 
the  object  of  his  devious  flight! 

If  any  other  consideration  were  necessary  to  ren 
der  obvious  the  importance  of  calling  attention  to 
the  true  aim  of  life,  it  were  furnished  in  the  fact  that 
so  many  who  do  live  for  some  one  purpose,  have 
adopted  an  end  entirely  unworthy  of  human  exist 
ence.  Now,  in  determining  the  question,  What  is  the 
proper  object  of  man's  pursuit  ?  something  may  be 
learned  from  an  examination  of  his  character  and 
endowments. 

This  a  priori  argument  runs  thus  :  If,  in  your  trav 
els,  you  were  to  fall  upon  a  piece  of  mechanism,  in 
some  respects,  at  first  sight,  resembling  a  watch,  and, 
upon  closer  examination,  found  that  a  slender  bar  of 
steel  was  balanced  upon  a  pivot,  which,  if  undis 
turbed,  always  pointed  in  a  given  direction,  you 
would  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  -the  object  of  this 
little  instrument  to  be  the  indicating  of  the  points 
of  the  compass. 

From  the  form  and  build  of  a  car,  a  balloon,  a 
boat,  you  determine  as  to  whether  it  was  designed 
for  a  land-carriage,  or  for  the  air,  or  the  water.  By 
the  same  means  you  are  satisfied  that  the  bird  is 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  37 

made  to  chirp,  and  sing,  and  fly  in  the  air ;  and  the 
camel,  with  his  capacious  stomach,  his  thick,  tough, 
elastic  foot,  and  Atlas  back,  to  bear  heavy  burdens 
over  the  broad,  burning  deserts. 

Pursuing  the  same  process  of  investigation,  you 
place  a  human  being  before  you,  and  inquire  for 
what  he  is  designed.  You  discover  that  he  possesses 
certain  qualities  in  common  with  other  creatures 
around  him.  He  has  a  physical  organism,  and  the 
principle  of  animal  life.  If  this  were  all,  it  were 
plain  that  in  hewing  wood,  and  drawing  water,  and 
digging  the  ground,  —  in  caring  for  himself,  and  liv 
ing  as  lives  the  brute,  regardless  of  all  other  than 
material  objects,  he  were  leading  a  life  not  unworthy 
of  his  being.  But  these  ingredients  alone  do  not 
constitute  man.  Added  to  these,  you  discover  another 
most  remarkable  element.  It  is  the  intelligent  prin 
ciple,  the  faculty  of  reason  and  reflection ;  the  god 
like  mind,  the  capacious  soul.  This  intelligent  prin 
ciple  you  find  to  be  capable  of  vast  reach  and 
towering  strength.  There  is  no  limit  to  its  expan 
sion,  and  it  takes  no  cognizance  of  time  or  space  in 
its  bold  excursions,  now  into  heaven,  now  into  hell, 
and  now  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  It 
calls  up  and  ponders  on  the  past,  and  explores  and 
anticipates  the  future.  It  is  wise  in  contriving,  far- 
reaching  in  execution,  and,  added  to  all,  is  suscepti 
ble  of  the  keenest  anguish,  and  the  most  refined  and 
exquisite  enjoyment. 

The  presence  of  this  most  wonderful  faculty,  for 
bids  the  belief  that  man  was  designed  to  pursue  no 
higher  purpose,  and  fill  no  higher  position  than  that 
of  the  unintelligent  creation  around  him.  If  you 
4 


38  PRIMITIVE   PIETY    REVIVED. 

were  to  find  the  bird  of  paradise,  or  the  proud  eagle, 
choosing  for  its  abode  the  foul  quagmire,  and  revel 
ling  with  the  loathsome  reptiles  that  infest  it,  you 
would  not  hesitate  to  declare  that  it  had  suffered  a 
most  humiliating  degradation.  "  Most  certainly," 
you  would  exclaim,  "  this  creature  of  lovely  plumage, 
or  lofty  flight,  was  not  made  for  such  a  life ! "  If  an 
angel  were  permitted  to  assume  a  mortal  body,  and 
should  join  the  multitude  of  men  who  delve  in  the 
earth  to  heap  up  its  treasures,  and,  like  them,  should 
live  only  to  gain  material  wealth,  who  would  not  be 
astonished  at  his  awful  depravity,  and  wonder  that 
such  endowments  were  prostituted  to  so  unworthy 
an  end  ?  On  the  same  principle  we  cannot  err  in 
being  persuaded  that  to  eat,  and  drink,  and  sleep, 
and  sport  away  life;  or  to  wear  it  out  in  seeking 
honor,  or  wealth,  or  any  earthly  good,  is  not  the  end 
for  which  man  was  placed  in  the  world.  His  lofty 
endowments  find  no  adequate  employment  in  such 
pursuits.  There  is  no  proper  breadth  and  scope  for 
their  action.  His  giant  mind  was  not  made  for 
play.  His  capacious  soul  was  not  intended  to  be 
chained  down  to  a  clod.  No !  the  eagle  was  made 
to  soar,  —  the  angel  for  an  angel's  service,  —  and 
man  for  some  exalted,  some  noble  purpose. 

But  the  question  as  to  what  is  that  noble  purpose 
for  which  man  is  to  live,  is  satisfactorily  answered  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  It  is  to  glorify  God,  —  to  live 
and  labor  that  God  may  be  honored  and  loved  by 
his  intelligent  creatures.  Sin  has  entered  into  the 
world ;  the  heart  of  man  is  alienated  from  God ;  and 
it  is  the  duty  of  each  to  bring  back  his  brother,  if  he 
may,  to  a  condition  of  loyalty  and  cheerful  obedi- 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  39 

ence.  The  present  is  a  remedial  state.  God  is  call 
ing  sinners  to  himself,  —  he  is  merciful  to  their 
infirmities  and  sins ;  and  he  enjoins  it  upon  us  to 
cooperate  with  him  in  his  work  of  mercy.  Hence 
says  the  apostle,  "  We  then  as  workers  together  with 
him,  beseech  you  also  that  you  receive  not  the  grace 
of  Gad  in  vain."  The  divine  command  comes  to 
each,  "  Whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of 
God."  As  if  it  were  said,  this  is  the  one  simple 
object  which  you  are  to  ever  have  in  view.  Indeed, 
for  this  object,  the  glory  of  God,  all  things  were 
created.  No  part  of  creation,  as  will  be  seen  in  the 
eternal  world,  answered  its  highest  end,  until  it  be 
came  subservient  to  this  grand  design.  It  will  there 
be  seen  that  "wealth  attained  its  true  destination 
only  when  it  fell  into  the  treasury  of  Christ;  that 
speech  realized  its  true  design  only  when  it  became 
'  a  means  of  grace,'  that  all  the  relationships  of  life, 
and  all  the  mutual  influences  with  which  those  rela 
tionships  invest  us,"  found  their  proper  end  only  when 
they  harmonized  with  the  divine  plan,  whose  single 
end  is  the  promotion  of  the  divine  glory. 

Nor  are  we  left  in  ignorance  as  to  the  method  of 
glorifying  God.  "  Herein  is  my  Father  glorified, 
that  ye  bear  much  fruit ;  "  the  fruits  of  personal  obe 
dience  and  active  service.  Again,  it  is  written,  "  put 
on  bowels  of  mercy ;  "  "  put  on  charity ; "  "  do  good 
to  all  men ; "  "  ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  com 
municate  ; "  "  charge  them  that  they  do  good,  that 
they  be  rich  in  good  works." 

When  God  bestows  his  converting  grace,  it  is  not 
only  that  the  individual  may  be  saved,  but  also  that 
he  may  promote  the  salvation  of  others,  to  an  extent 


40  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

not  attained  in  an  unconverted  state.  Each  re 
newed  man  is  to  consider  himself  as  a  special  mes 
senger  of  mercy ;  to  do  instmmentally  what  Christ 
did  efficaciously.  Said  our  Saviour,  "  As  thou  hast 
sent  me  into  the  world,  even  so  have  I  also  sent 
them  into  the  world ; "  or,  as  Dr.  Campbell  has  it, 
"  As  thou  hast  made  me  thy  apostle  to  the  world,  I 
have  made  them  my  apostles  to  the  world."  The 
author  of  the  "  Family  Expositor"  gives  it  thus  :  "  As 
thou  hast  sent  me  into  the  world  to  be  the  messen 
ger  of  this  grace,  I  also  have  sent  them  into  the 
world  on  the  same  errand,  to  publish  and  proclaim 
what  they  have  learned  of  me."  As  though  Christ 
had  said  to  each  one  of  his  followers,  "  I  came  for 
one  specific  purpose,  to  seek  and  save  that  which  is 
lost.  Consider  yourself  as  called  and  dedicated  to 
the  same  office."  Thus  are  copies  of  Christ's  char 
acter,  so  to  speak,  multiplied  in  the  lives  of  his  disci 
ples  ;  every  renewed  soul  looking  upon  himself  as 
the  representative  of  Christ  in  the  world,  and  bound 
to  go  forth  beseeching  men,  in  his  stead,  to  be  recon 
ciled  to  God.  And  Christ  himself  stands  forth  to 
all  time,  as  the  finest  model,  the  grandest  illustration 
of  this  devotedness  to  life's  one  work.  In  vain  the 
devil  pictures  to  his  mind  the  kingdoms  of  the  world, 
and  all  the  glory  of  them,  to  be  had  for  one  act  of 
deference  to  his  impious  authority.  In  vain  the 
Jews  desire  to  make  him  a  king.  In  vain  the  con 
tradiction  of  sinners.  In  vain  the  opposition  of 
wicked  men  and  lying  spirits.  In  vain  cold  moun 
tains  and  the  midnight  air,  and  even  the  very  calls 
of  nature.  He  cannot,  he  will  not  be  turned  aside. 
Still,  still  are  his  energies  absorbed  .in  one  thing-; 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  41 

still,  still  is  he  going  about  doing  good,  —  his  whole 
life  the  exponent  of  the  sublime  sentiment,  "  My 
meat  is  to  do  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  and  to  finish 
his  work  !  " 

In  imitation  of  Christ,  the  early  disciples  were  "  a 
peculiar  people,"  because  of  this  singleness  of  aim. 
To  do  good,  to  make  known  the  great  salvation,  to 
lead  their  fellow  men  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth, 
was  their  ruling  passion.  That  they  might  gain  this 
end,  they  took  joyfully  the  spoiling  of  their  goods, 
counting  not  even  their  lives  dear  unto  them.  With 

o 

this  as  an  ultimate  object,  they  worked  with  their 
hands ;  to  gain  it,  they  labored,  and  thought,  and 
prayed.  Like  their  brethren  of  the  martyr  age,  their 
motto,  in  effect,  was,  "  Nothing  for  self,  every  thing 
for  God."  Indeed,  they  looked  upon  themselves  as 
called  into  Christ's  kingdom  with  the  special  design 
that  they  might  witness  for  him.  This  was  their 
calling,  their  business ;  and  hence,  as  they  went  they 
preached,  and  in  all  places,  and  ah1  times,  sought  to 
win  souls  to  Christ. 

Of  this  simplicity  of  purpose  how  bright  an  exam 
ple  have  we  in  the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  —  brighter 
than  that  of  thousands  of  others  of  his  time,  only 
because  it  found  a  fuller  development,  and  more  per 
fect  delineation.  It  has  been  well  said  of  him,  that 
there  was  a  time  when,  in  common  with  the  world, 
he  regarded  life  as  superlatively  valuable;  but  he 
now  looked  upon  it  as  comparatively  insignificant, 
for  he  had  found  an  object  of  unspeakably  greater 
importance.  Others  might  copy  the  example  of 
their  fellow  men,  but  he  had  risen  to  the  high  and 
holy  ambition  of  copying  the  example  of  incarnate 
4* 


42  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

perfection,  of  God  manifest  in  the  flesh.  Others 
might  waste  their  precious  time  in  ease,  and  sloth, 
and  worldly  indulgence ;  but  he  aspired  to  enter  into 
the  counsels  of  heaven,  to  become  a  coworker  with 
God,  and  instrumentally  to  mingle  in  the  operations 
of  almighty  love  in  renewing  and  blessing  a  world 
of  apostate  but  immortal  beings.  Others  might 
content  themselves  with  the  praise  of  men,  with  the 
good  opinion  of  creatures  perishing  like  themselves ; 
but  he  aspired  to  the  distinction  of  pleasing  God,  — 
of  being  received  and  welcomed  into  the  presence  of 
the  Supreme,  with  the  sentence,  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant."  Others  might  be  satisfied 
with  their  own  personal  salvation ;  but  feeling  that 
he  had  a  Saviour  for  the  world,  he  panted  to  go 
everywhere  claiming  that  world  for  Christ,  —  panted 
to  present  every  man  "  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus,"  — 
"  travailed  in  birth  "  for  the  regeneration  of  the  race."  * 
There  was  in  him  an  unity  of  object.  If  he  pleased 
all  men,  and  became  "  all  things  to  all  men,"  it  was 
that  "  by  any  means  "  he  "  might  save  some."  If  he 
provoked  his  brethren  to  emulation,  it  was,  still,  that 
he  "  might  save  some  of  them ; "  and  having  this  one 
object  before  him,  he  moved  onward  "with  a  mo 
mentum  which  the  nature  of  mind  forbade  to  be 
more,  and  the  principles  that  actuated  him  forbade 
to  be  less." 

The  want  of  this  unity  of  object  constitutes  a 
prevailing  defect  in  the  Christians  of  the  present 
day.  In  this  respect  they  are  not  followers  of  the 
apostles  and  primitive  disciples,  as  they  followed 

*  Dr.  Harris,  in  "The  Great  Commission." 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  43 

Christ.  Indeed,  the  majority  of  professing  Chris 
tians  seem  to  entertain  no  just  conception  of  God's 
design  in  introducing  them  into  his  kingdom.  In 
their  view,  they  are  permitted  the  privileges  of  the 
church,  principally  if  not  solely,  that  they  may  be 
happy  there;  that  they  may  "enjoy  themselves;" 
rather  than  that,  by  a  combination  of  strength,  their 
usefulness  may  be  enhanced.  The  church  is  rather  a 
nursery,  in  their  view,  than  a  workshop ;  a  place 
where  the  pious  may  quietly  regale  themselves,  in 
the  warm  sunshine  of  the  Saviour's  love,  and  the 
soft  breezes  of  the  gracious  Spirit,  rather  than  where 
they  may  successfully  toil  and  do  service  for  the 
Master. 

The  benefit  of  religion,  with  them,  is,  that  it  im 
parts  a  hope  of  heaven.  That  which  gives  them 
most  anxiety,  is  the  question  as  to  whether  it  is  a 
"  good  hope ; "  if  satisfied  of  this,  there  is  little  else 
about  which  they  need  concern  themselves.  They 
do  not  comprehend  the  vocation  of  the  church  as  a 
testifying,  proselyting  body.  They  do  not  sympa 
thize  with  Christ  in  the  travail  of  his  soul.  On  that 
point  where  God  feels  the  strongest,  —  the  welfare 
of  dying  men, — they  have  little  or  no  feeling.  There 
are  no  rivers  of  water  running  down  their  eyes, 
because  the  people  keep  not  God's  law,  —  no  weep 
ing  over  Jerusalem  sinners,  —  no  continual  heaviness 
arid  sorrow  of  heart  because  of  the  guilt  and  woe 
of  a  sin-stricken  world.  In  a  word,  they  have  no 
adequate  idea  of  the  one  great  work  to  which  every 
child  of  God  is  called,  and  consequently  no  becoming 
sympathy  in  that  work.  But  even  where  right  views 
are  entertained,  the  pressure  of  other  than  the  calls 


44  PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

of  religion  oftentimes  diverts  the  energies  from  the 
proper  object.  The  energies  of  some  are  absorbed 
in  pleasures ;  or  expended  in  the  acquisition  of  honor ; 
while,  in  most  cases,  they  are  turned  toward  the  accu 
mulation  of  wealth. 

The  rage  for  money,  certainly  in  this  country,  is 
a  most  remarkable  feature  of  the  times.  "  Money 
answereth  all  things,"  it  is  said ;  and  all  things  are 
made  to  bend  to  its  acquisition.  What  an  English 
writer  has  said  of  his  country,  is  most  surely  true  of 
ours  i  "  Could  we  ascertain  the  entire  amount  of 
national  excitement  and  emotion  experienced  in  the 
course  of  a  year,  and  could  we  then  distribute  it 
into  classes,  assigning  each  respectively  to  its  own 
exciting  cause,  who  can  for  a  moment  doubt  that' 
the  amount  of  excitement  arising  from  the  influence 
and  operation  of  money,  direct  and  indirect,  would 
not  only  exceed  that  of  either  of  the  others,  separately 
considered,  but  would  go  near  to  surpass  them  alto 
gether  ?  "  Go,  traverse  the  streets  of  our  great  com 
mercial  emporium,  and  see  how  the  pulse  of  the 
community  throbs  with  this  tremendous  excitement. 

As  a  picture  of  things  twelve  months  ago,  the  fol 
lowing,  from  a  resident  editor,  is  not  overdrawn : 
"  More  lands,  more  houses,  more  merchandise,  more 
banks,  more  railways,  more  stocks,  more  and  better 
securities,  in  one  word,  more  wealth.  Nobody  has 
any  thought  of  resting  satisfied ;  nobody  has  busi 
ness  enough,  or  possessions  enough ;  the  city  is  not 
yet  built,  nor  is  it  likely  soon  to  be ;  every  thing  is 
just  in  its  beginning  ;  ship-building  and  ocean  navi 
gation  are  new  arts  yet  to  be  developed  in  their  rela 
tions  to  commercial  enterprise  and  wealth;  real  estate 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  45 

has  a  chronic  fever  not  likely  soon  to  abate ;  stocks 
have  an  '  upward  tendency ; '  trade  is  just  begin 
ning  to  be  'lively;'  the  whole  available  materials 
and  labor  of  the  world  would  not  suffice  to  build  the 
railroads  projected  or  contracted  for  the  next  twenty 
years ;  the  machinery  of  wealth  is  only  put  in  motion, 
its  results  are  to  be  realized ;  no  one  yet  calls  him 
self  rich,  but  every  one  means  to  be  rich."  * 

Now  is  it  selfishness,  or  benevolence,  that  begets 
this  universal  passion  for  gain  ?  For,  it  should  be 
observed,  that  the  desire  to  possess  property  is  not 
in  itself  sinful;  to  seek  it  may  be  a  virtue,  not  a 
vice  ;  to  possess  it  may  be  a  blessing,  not  a  curse. 
It  is  not  necessarily  they  that  have  riches  that  find  it 
hard  to  enter  heaven,  but  they  that  love  riches.  It  is 
not  money  that  is  "  the  root  of  all  evil,"  but  the  love 
of  money. 

There  is  a  temple  in  one  of  the  cities  of  Europe 
through  which  is  the  very  passage  to  the  market 
place  ;  and  those  who  pass  there,  often  rest  their  bur 
dens  to  turn  aside  and  kneel  at  tlfe  altar  of  prayer 
So,  as  one  has  said,  the  temple  of  Mammon  should 
be  the  temple  of  God.  The  gates  of  trade  should  be 
as  the  entrance  to  the  sanctuary  of  conscience.  The 
presence  of  God  is  in  the  counting-room  and  ware 
house  of  the  busy  mart,  and  ought  to  make  it  "  holy 
ground." 

But  do  men,  generally,  Christian  men,  seek  after 
wealth,  and  possess  it,  as  in  the  sight  of  God,  and 
solely  for  his  glory  ?  If  there  be  this  benevolent  and 
not  a  selfish  design  in  efforts  at  accumulation,  if  they 

*  "Independent,"  March,  1854. 


46  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

spring  from  right  motives,  then  are  they  deserving  of 
commendation,  and  not  reproof ;  unless,  indeed,  they 
are  suffered  to  run  to  excess.  But  it  is  obvious  to 
every  discerning  mind  that  this  is  not  the  case  with 
the  mass  of  Christian  professors.  There  are  some 
noble  exceptions,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  the  vast 
majority  regard  the  end  of  business  as  the  suste 
nance  of  life,  or  the  relief  from  toil  and  drudgery  for 
some  imaginary  enjoyment.  Or,  which  is  much  the 
same  thing,  they  regard  wealth  as  an  end,  instead  of 
a  means  to  an  end.  It  was  said  of  a  liberal  Chris 
tian  of  large  ability,  subsequent  to  his  death,  "he 
was  a  man  who  knew  the  odds  between  the  means 
of  living,  and  the  ends  of  life.  He  knew  the  true 
use  of  riches.  They  served  as  the  material  basis  for 
great,  manly  excellence.  His  ton  of  gold  was  a 
power  to  feed  and  clothe,  to  house,  and  warm,  and 
comfort  needy  men ;  a  power  to  educate  the  mind, 
to  cheer  the  affections,  to  bless  the  soul."  Not  so  of 
most  men.  They  seek  a  competence,  not  that  they 
may  glorify  Gocf  but  glorify  themselves,  —  not  that 
they  may  use  it  for  the  good  of  the  needy,  but 
squander  it  upon  their  own  lusts,  —  not  that  they 
may  make  to  themselves,  with  their  "  mammon  of 
unrighteousness,"  friends  who  shall  greet  them  in 
heaven,  and  receive  them  "into  everlasting  habita 
tions,"  but  that  they  may  live  in  ease,  and  make  for 
themselves  friends  and  a  great  name  on  earth  ;  or, 
perhaps,  leave  a  splendid  fortune  to  an  idol  child, 
like  him  of  whom  one  of  our  own  poets  hath  sung, 

"  He  had  sold  his  life  to  gather  gain, 
And  build  a  mansion  for  his  only  son, 
That  crowds  might  envy.    To  his  wearied  heart, 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  47 

Amid  its  slavery,  oft  lie  said,  '  Plod  on, 
' T is  for  my  son ;'"  — 

forgetting  that  that  very  fortune  might  prove  the 
curse  of  the  pampered  boy,  or  that,  in  mercy,  God 
might  take  him  away  from  the  evil  to  come,  leaving 
one  more  illustration  of  the  Scripture,  "  He  heapeth 
up  riches,  and  knoweth  not  who  shall  gather  them." 
Reference  is  not  here  had,  exclusively,  to  those 
who  are  guilty  of  downright  "  covetousness,  which  is 
idolatry,"  a  sin  of  far  more  frequent  occurrence  than 
is  generally  supposed,  as  the  revelations  of  the  judg 
ment  will  undoubtedly  prove,  —  nor  yet  to  the  poor, 
miserable  creature,  well  called  miser*  whose  life  has 
been  described  as  "  one  long  sigh  for  wealth  ; "  who 
would  "  coin  his  lifeblood  into  gold,"  and  "  sell  his 
soul  for  gain ; "  who 

"  Throws  up  his  interest  in  both  worlds ; 
First  starved  in  this,  then  damned  in  that  to  come ; " 

but  principally  to  men  of  reputed,  and,  perhaps,  of 
actual  piety. 

Is  it  not  a  lamentable  fact,  that  with  many  men  of 
fair  character  in  the  Christian  church,  business  is 
divorced  from  religion?  Do  they  not  pursue  it  as 
something  distinct  from  serving-  God?  Times  and 
places  are  sacred ;  but  not  the  whole  of  life.  Por 
tions  of  time  they  give  to  God;  but  they  do  not 
carry  their  religion  into  their  business.  The  pew  is 
consecrated  to  God,  but  not  the  counting-room.  The 
hours  of  the  Sabbath  they  keep  holy ;  but  "  Holiness 
to  the  Lord"  is  not  written  upon  the  days  of  the 

*  Latin  miser,  miserable 


48  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

week.  During  the  former  they  worship  God;  during 
the  latter  they  serve  themselves.  Are  not  these  things 
so  ?  Are  not  Christian  men  too  generally  actuated 
in  getting  money  by  the  sordid  love  of  gain  ?  Do 
they  not  seek  property,  not  mainly  as  an  instrument 
of  doing  good  to  themselves  and  others,  and  by  this 
means  promoting  the  glory  of  God,  but  rather  out 
of  unworthy  and  selfish  considerations  ?  Is  not 
industry,  oftentimes,  simply  another  and  more  re 
spectable  name  for  worldliness  ?  Is  not  the  plea,  "  I 
must  prosecute  the  business  thrown  upon  my  hands, 
and  save  the  money  I  have  gained,"  oftentimes, 
rather  an  apology  for  covetousness  than  the  dictate 
of  a  sense  of  duty  toward  God?  And  is  not  the 
excuse,  "  I  must  provide  for  my  family,"  oftentimes 
simply  an  opiate  for  the  conscience,  when  bowing 
down  and  sacrificing  to  SELF  ?  It  cannot  be  denied. 
The  evidences  are  too  palpable  to  admit  of  denial. 
And  it  is  for  this  sole  reason  that  active  business 
habits  are  so  destructive  to  vigorous  piety.  Business 
is  too  often  a  perfect  thraldom,  where  all  the  energies 
are  exhausted  in  the  drudgery  of  mammon,  and 
where  the  religious  affections  are  wellnigh  stifled  and 
destroyed. 

It  is  universally  admitted  that  it  is  now  almost  at 
the  peril  of  his  piety  that  a  Christian  young  man 
embarks  in  business,  especially  if  of  a  commercial 
or  professional  character.  The  experiment  is  little 
less  hazardous  than  the  shipping  of  tropical  plants 
to  the  north  pole,  or  putting  one's  self  into  commu 
nication  with  a  torpedo.  There  is  a  fearful  proba 
bility  that  his  spiritual  energies  will  be  benumbed 
and  stupefied;  that  he  will  lose  that  tender  con- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  49 

science,  and  that  heavenly-mindedness,  and  sweet 
simplicity,  and  hearty  sympathy  with  the  cause  of 
the  Redeemer,  that  characterize  the  young  disciple 
of  Christ.  And  why  ?  Because  business  is  too 
generally  prosecuted  from  low  and  selfish  motives, 
and  according  to  other  than  Christian  principles. 
There  is  no  real  antagonism  between  business  and 
piety.  If  so,  why  has  God  commanded  us  to  be 
"  diligent  in  business,"  and  at  the  same  time  to 
"  grow  in  grace  ?  "  Are  not  the  two  things  compati 
ble  the  one  with  the  other  ?  May  we  not  be  "  dili 
gent  in  business,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord  ? " 
This  is  but  an  epitome  of  the  lives  of  some  business 
men ;  which  proves  that  it  might  be  of  others.  Pres 
ident  Edwards  tells  us  of  an  humble  Christian  who 
used  to  exclaim,  "  Oh,  how  good  it  is  to  work  all  day 
for  God,  and  at  night ^to  lie  down  under  his  smiles ! " 
And  in  connection  with  the  narration,  he  remarks, 
that  "high  experiences  and  religious  affections  in 
this  person  were  not  attended  with  any  dispositions 
at  all  to  neglect  the  necessary  business  of  a  secular 
calling;  but  worldly  business  was  attended  to  with 
great  alacrity  as  a  part  of  the  service  of  God;  the 
person  declaring  that,  being  done  thus,  it  was  found 
to  be  as  good  as  prayer."  In  this  case,  active  busi 
ness  was  found  directly  conducive  to  the  vigor  of  the 
inner  life  with  Christ.  Illustrations  on  the  same 
point  are  furnished  in  the  lives  of  Harlan  PagCj  and 
John  Thornton,  and  Matthew  Hale,  and  William 
Wilberforce,  and  Nathaniel  R.  Cobb,  and  Garrat 
Noel  Bleecker,  —  all  of  whom,  amid  pressing  duties 
and  responsibilities  of  a  worldly  nature,  were  emi 
nent  for  piety  and  good  works.  Normand  Smith, 
5 


50  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

who  lived  and  died  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  —  died 
exclaiming,  "  Home,  home,  —  I  see  the  New  Jerusa 
lem,  —  They  praise  Him  —  they  praise  Him  !  "  —  was 
another  bright  example  of  a  business  Christian*  In 
volved  in  an  extensive  business,  he  was,  at  one  time, 
led  to  inquire,  whether  it  was  not  his  duty  to  relin 
quish  it,  at  least  in  part,  that  he  might  have  time  to 
do  more  good.  Seeking  the  advice  of  his  pastor,f 
he  was  told  that  "  the  Lord,  in  prospering  him,  had 
indicated  how  he  was  to  glorify  him  in  the  world. 
It  was  urged  that  the  channels  of  wealth  were  open, 
and  their  streams  flowing  in  upon  him,  and  that  it 
would  be  wrong  to  obstruct  them,  —  that  pursuing 
his  business  out  of  a  sense  of  duty,  that  he  might 
do  good,  and  so  honor  God,  he  would  increase  in 
holiness  and  usefulness."  It  appears  that  shortly 
after  this  conversation  he  made  the  following  entry 
in  his  journal :  "  The  Lord  has  made  the  path  of 
duty  plain  before  me ;  for  a  year  I  have  been  in 
much  doubt  as  to  the  duty  of  continuing  my  present 
business.  My  mind  has  become  settled.  I  have  de 
termined  to  continue  it,  and  I  trust  it  is  not  in  order 
to  grow  rich.  I  dare  not  be  rich.  I  would  not  be 
rich.  '  They  that  would  be  rich  fall  into  tempta 
tion,'  etc.  I  believe  the  Lord  has  led  me,  and 
inclined  me  to  pursue  my  business,  not  to  increase 
in  riches,  but  that  I  may  have  to  give  to  him  that 
needeth.  It  is  therefore  my  purpose  to  engage  in 


*  The  incidents  of  his  life  here  given,  are  gathered  from  his 
biography,  written  by  Eev.  Joel  Hawes,  D.  D.,  and  published  by 
the  American  Tract  Society. 

f  The  biographer. 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  51 

my  business  that  I  may  serve  God  in  it,  and  with 
the  expectation  of  getting  to  give."  From  that  time 
it  became  his  rule  to  use  for  benevolent  purposes  all 
the  means  which  he  could  take  from  his  business, 
and  prosecute  it  advantageously;  and  the  Lord 
blessed  him  richly,  and  made  him,  by  his  consistent 
piety  and  active  usefulness,  a  rich  blessing  to  others. 
His  whole  life,  and  his  triumphant  death,  were  a 
beautiful  commentary  upon  the  fact  that  business, 
rightly  pursued,  instead  of  being  hostile  to  active 
piety  and  extensive  usefulness,  is  of  a  nature  pre 
cisely  the  opposite. 

His  biographer  tells  us  that  he  never  grew  in 
grace  more  rapidly,  or  shone  brighter  as  a  Christian 
than  during  the  last  six  or  seven  years  of  his  life, 
when  he  had  the  greatest  amount  of  business  on  his 
hands.  From  the  time  when  he  devoted  all  to  God, 
and  resolved  to  pursue  his  business  as  a  part  of  his 
religion,  he  found  no  tendency  in  his  worldly  engage 
ments  to  chill  his  piety  or  enchain  his  affections  to 
the  earth.  His  business  became  to  him  a  means  of 
grace,  and  helped  him  forward  in  the  divine  life, 
just  as  truly  as  reading  the  Scriptures  and  prayer. 

Let  the  motives  and  principles  of  this  devoted 
Christian  be  generally  adopted,  and  the  complaint 
would  cease  to  be  made,  that  the  toils  and  cares  of 
life  choke  the  word  of  grace,  and  cause  it  to  become 
unfruitful. 

Thus  ordered,  the  office  or  the  shop  becomes  a 
very  Bethel.  The  disciple  must  exemplify  the  doc 
trines  and  spirit  of  his  Lord  on  the  farm,  or  the  ex 
change,  as  in  the  closet ;  and  flocks  and  herds,  and 
money  and  merchandise,  do  but  remind  him  of  his 


52  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

stewardship,  and  quicken  the  sense  of  his  obligations 
to  God  and  a  dying  world. 

Thus  ordered,  "  one's  whole  life,  its  pauses  and  re 
tirements,  its  Sabbaths  and  its  solemn  assemblies, 
will  be  one  long  act  of  consecration.  The  psalm  of 
a  grateful  and  regenerate  heart  will,  with  its  habit 
ual,  unremitting  flow,  fill  up  all  the  interstices  of  his 
visits  to  the  closet  and  the  sanctuary.  The  life  of 
godliness  will  be  devotional  even  on  common  days 
and  in  familiar  scenes.  It  will  thus  bring  down 
beams  and  airs  of  heaven,  into  earth's  darkest  and 
lowliest  nooks.  Its  calendar  will  have  its  whole  year 
hallowed;  while  it  keeps  still  its  days  of  special 
sanctity,  the  thrice  hallowed.  It  will  be  WORSHIP  AT 
WORK,  kneading  the  leaven  of  Christian  principle  in 
to  the  entire  mass  of  its  personal  activity  and  social 
influence."  *  "  No  Christian  has  a  right  to  regard 
his  business  as  separate  from  the  honor  of  his  Maker, 
and  the  good  of  his  fellow  men.  His  interests 
should  be  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  church 
and  the  glory  of  his  Saviour ;  and  whenever  his  time 
or  personal  influence  is  demanded  to  promote  a  good 

work,  he   should  be  ready  to  meet  the  demand, 

considering  only  .whether  in  this  way  he  can  best 
serve  God  and  his  generation.  This  is  the  true  prin 
ciple  of  action,  and  it  ought  to  be  adopted  by  every 
Christian  man  of  business.  No  Christian  man  has 
a  right  to  make  his  business  paramount  to  the  de 
mands  of  Christian  duty,  or  so  to  burden  himself 
with  secular  cares,  as  to  find  no  time  to  do  good. 
Indeed,  the  man  who  is  most  deeply  engaged  in 

*  Worship  at  Work.     American  Tract  Society. 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  53 

business,  if  he  feels  right,  is  usually  the  man  who  is 
most  ready  unto  every  good  work.  For  in  all  his 
aims  and  intercourse  with  this  world,  he  has  a  sim 
ple  purpose  to  glorify  God."  * 

O  how  imperative  the  demand  for  more  of  this 
oneness  of  aim ! 

"  In  his  case,"  said  a  merchant,  referring  to  a  min 
ister  of  the  gospel,  "  in  his  case  the  promotion  of  re 
ligion  was  his  chief  business ;  but  my  business  is 
trade,  which  requires  the  exercise  of  different  facul 
ties  and  different  rules  of  life."  Here  the  whole 
difficulty  presents  itself.  "  The  promotion  of  relig 
ion  was  Ms  business"  "  Mine  is  trade ! "  As  if 
what  is  the  minister's  business,  is  not  the  business 
of  the  private  Christian  !  As  if  it  were  some  men's 
vocation  to  serve  Christ,  and  that  of  some  to  serve 
themselves!  As  if  "trade"  were  incompatible  with 
serving  the  Lord,  and  must  be  prosecuted  according 
to  "different  rules!" 

Alas,  these  pernicious  maxims  of  the  times,  to 
what  an  alarming  extent  do  they  prevail  in  the 
church  of  Christ! 

How  simple,  and  yet  explicit  the  divine  injunction, 
"  Ye  are  not  your  own ;  for  ye  are  bought  with  a 
price :  therefore,  glorify  God  in  your  body  and  in  your 
spirit,  which  are  God's"  Here  every  thing  is  plain. 
The  disciples  of  Christ  follow,  of  necessity,  differ 
ent  pursuits ;  but,  of  right,  they  alike  follow  them 
for  one  end.  The  occupation  is  different,  —  the  object 
the  same.  "  Bought  with  a  price,"  they  are  to  serve, 
and  thus  glorify  God.  Some  are  called  to  serve  at 

*  See  Life  of  N.  Smith,  p.  Cl. 

5* 


54  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

the  counter,  some  at  the  anvil,  some  at  the  loom, 
some  at  the  carpenter's  bench,  some  at  the  bench  of 
justice,  —  some  by  ploughing  the  deep  waters,  some 
by  ploughing  the  warm  soil,  —  some  by  preaching, 
some  by  teaching,  —  some  with  the  hand,  some  with 
the  mouth,  some  with  the  brain;  but  all,  in  every 
department  of  activity,  are  under  the  most  sacred 
obligations  to  make  the  promotion  of  religion,  either 
directly  or  indirectly,  their  chief  business,  their  ONE 
GRAND  AIM! 

Any  other  view  than  this,  of  Christian  obligation, 
is  every  way  inadequate  and  unworthy.  Redeemed 
for  a  noble,  godlike  purpose,  as  is  the  believer,  how 
low,  how  grovelling  the  love  of  pelf,  and  the  pursuit 
of  it  for  mere  selfish  ends !  In  the  words  of  an  old 
gem  from  Flavel, 

"  Judge  in  thyself,  O  Christian  !   Is  it  meet 
To  set  thy  heart  on  what  beasts  set  their  feet  ? 
'T  is  no  hyperbole,  if  you  are  told 
You  dig  your  dross  with  mattocks  made  of  gold. 
Affections  are  too  costly  to  bestow 
Upon  the  fair-faced  nothings  here  below ; 
The  eagle  scorns  to  fall  down  from  on  high, 
The  proverb  saith,  to  catch  the  silly  fly  ; 
And  can  a  Christian  leave  the  face  of  God, 
To  embrace  the  earth,  or  doat  upon  a  clod  ?  " 

But  this  turning  aside  from  the  one  work  of  seek 
ing  the  welfare  of  dying  men,  has  in  it,  also,  the  ele 
ment  of  guilty  of  exceeding  wickedness  in  the  sight 
of  God.  Suppose  that  during  the  prevalence  of 
the  awful  famine  that  visited  unfortunate  Ireland,  a 
few  years  since,  twenty  men  had  been  intrusted  with 
a  cargo  of  grain  which  had  been  purchased  with  the 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  55 

funds  of  the  benevolent,  and  was  put  into  their  charge 
to  be  shipped  to  the  famine-stricken  people,  and  dis 
tributed  for  their  relief. 

And  suppose  that,  on  their  way,  the  men  should 
have  stopped  at  some  intervening  port,  and  becom 
ing  acquainted  with  extraordinary  commercial  ad 
vantages  there  presenting  themselves,  and  ceasing  to 
feel  any  special  interest  in  the  mission  of  mercy  on 
which  they  had  been  sent,  or  obligations  to  those 
that  sent  them,  they  had  abandoned  the  object  con 
templated,  and  actually  consumed  the  property  con 
signed  to  their  care,  or  traded  it  away,  and  with  the 
avails  established  themselves  in  some  splendid  com 
mercial  enterprise.  What  awful  guilt!  What  un 
faithfulness  to  those  who  had  confided  in  them ! 
What  worse  than  brutal  insensibility  to  the  cries 
and  distresses  of  those  who  were  dying  for  want  of 
the  aid  which  they  were  able,  and  in  duty  bound  to 
bestow !  But  is  it  not  infinitely  more  guilty  in  men  to 
turn  aside  from  the  benevolent  mission  to  which  every 
Christian  is  appointed,  and  prostitute  their  affections 
and  energies  and  means  to  the  promotion  of  their 
own  selfish  designs,  while  multitudes  perish  from  their 
unconcern  and  neglect !  O  for  the  simplicity  of  an 
cient  times !  when  men  and  women,  whatever  their 
mode  of  doing  good,  could  say  with  the  Apostle, 
though  in  another  sense,  " One  thing  I  do"  —  when 
"  one  all-pervading  passion,  one  all -controlling  purpose, 
bound  their  various  and  versatile  efforts  together, 
causing  the  whole  to  result,  like  the  intricate  motions 
of  a  complicated  machine,  in  one  entire  effect."  O 
for  the  time  when  each  believer  in  Christ  will  feel 
that  he  is  singled  out,  and  appointed  by  the  Master 


56  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

to  perform  daily  service  in  his  vineyard ;  not  neces 
sarily  by  neglecting  the  business  pursuits  and  com 
plicated  affairs  of  life,  but  for  that  very  purpose  attend 
ing  to  them,  —  the  time  when  parents  shall  love  and 
educate  their  children  for  Christ's  sake,  —  when  the 
tradesman  shall  eagerly  watch  opportunities  of  honest 
gain,  that  he  may  withdraw  so  much  of  the  wealth  of 
the  world  from  sordid  purposes,  and  consecrate  it  to  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,  —  when 
the  scholar,  the  lawyer,  the  farmer,  the  tradesman, 
the  mechanic,  shall  attend  to  the  duties  of  his  voca 
tion  out  of  a  desire  to  glorify  him  who  loved  us  and 
gave  himself  for  us, — when,  in  a  word,  every  disci 
ple,  not  waiting  for  some  great  opportunities  of  use 
fulness,  shall  seize  the  present  opportunities,  and  do 
the  work  that  lies  in  his  own  sphere  of  action, 
remembering  that  "  as  the  course  of  Christ  led 
directly  to  the  cross,  his  life  is  to  be  a  continuation 
of  the  same  course,  from  the  cross  to  the  sinner 
whom  it  concerns ;  so  that  the  same  object  for  which 
his  Lord  came  into  the  world  and  died,  he  is  to  live 
for  till  he  quits  the  world."  Then  were  the  life  of 
Christ  reproduced  in  the  life  of  his  followers.  Then 
were  Christendom  full  of  active  minds  and  active 
hands  planning  and  plying  their  business  with  the 
sublime  end  of  saving  men  from  the  power  and  do 
minion  of  sin  and  death.  Then  were  there  no  need 
of  startling  appeals  and  expensive  machinery  to 
bring  a  few  thousands  of  dollars  into  the  treasury  of 
the  Lord,  but  the  rich,  by  contributing  of  their  abun 
dance,  and  the  poor  of  their  poverty,  would  more 
than  supply  the  largest  demand.  There  were  then 
no  want  of  Aarons  and  Hurs,  and  Priscillas  and 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  57 

Aquilas,  to  stay  up  the  hands  of  God's  ministers, 
and  act  as  "  helpers  in  Christ  Jesus,"  for  "  the  peo 
ple  "  would  have  "  a  mind  to  work." 

How  industrious  and  how  prudent  would  men 
then  become !  How  "  diligent  in  business  "  and 
economical  of  their  means,  that  they  might  have 
wherewith  to  feed  the  hungry,  and  clothe  the  naked, 
and  impart  to  all  the  knowledge  of  Jesus !  How 
cheerfully  and  happily,  then,  would  mothers  encoun 
ter  the  little  trials,  and  meet  the  numerous  grave 
responsibilities  incident  to  the  training  of  their  chil 
dren  for  Christ  and  his  cause  !  With  what  a  glad 
heart  would  fathers  toil  and  swelter  in  the  noonday 
sun,  to  provide  for  their  household !  Doing  it  "  as 
unto  God"  and  finding  it  as  conducive  to  piety  as  is 
prayer.  With  what  moral  grandeur  would  our 
shops  and  counting-houses  be  then  invested,  where 
busy  minds  and  busy  hands  were  occupied  in  getting 
gain  for  the  sublime  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  de 
signs  of  the  King  of  Heaven!  And  how  greatly 
multiplied  would  be  the  number  of  the  strong  men, 
the  efficient  workers  in  our  churches  ;  for,  as  has  been 
observed,  "  the  grand  idea  of  toiling  to  rescue  the 
world  from  sin,  never  mastered  a  man's  soul  without 
enlarging  it,  without  stimulating  all  his  faculties  to 
unprecedented  vigor,  unfolding  resources  not  yet 
imagined  to  be  in  him,  and  producing  a  concentra 
tion  and  perseverance  of  action,  which  cannot  fail 
of  realizing  great  results." 

Such  would  be  some  of  the  happy  results  attend 
ant  upon  a  prevailing  simplicity  of  purpose  among 
God's  dear  children.  And  in  vain  do  we  look  for 
the  highest  success  of  the  gospel,  until  this  trait  of 


58  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

character  obtains  to  a  far  greater  extent  than  it  now 
obtains. 

In  this  matter  there  must  be  an  entire  reform. 
Christian  character  must  assume  more  of  that 
"  moral  fitness  which  springs  from  disinterested  de- 
votedness  to  the  one  object  of  the  world's  salvation," 
before  it  will  possess  its  true  beauty  and  power. 

The  Redemptorists,  a  corps  of  young  Romish 
priests,  among  all  their  errors,  adopted  this  excellent 
rule  for  their  daily  life :  Before  you  begin  your  work, 
say,  "  All  for  thee,  O  Lord;  O  my  Jesus,  all  for 
thee  ! "  The  significant  watchword  of  the  zealous 
Loyola  was,  "Ad  major  em  Dei  Gloriam" — for  the 
greater  glory  of  God  !  And  it  was  the  pious  Swin- 
nock  of  the  seventeenth  century  who  said,  "  I  desire 
that  I  may  never,  in  a  morning,  open  my  shop,  or 
lift  up  a  tool,  (as  my  trade  is,)  before  I  have  lifted 
up  my  heart  to  God  for  his  blessing  upon  my  en 
deavors." 

O  for  the  prevalence  of  sentiments  like  these, 
among  the  ranks  of  Christ's  followers !  To  render 
them  universal,  is  truly  a  most  worthy  object  of 
Christian  endeavor. 

In  this  work  pious  fathers  and  mothers  have  an 
important  part  to  perform.  Erroneous  views  respect 
ing  the  great  end  of  life  are,  to  a  fearful  extent, 
instilled  into  the  minds  of  children,  by  well-meaning 
but  misguided  parental  example  and  instruction.  In 
the  majority  of  instances,  the  child  is  led  to  the  con 
clusion  that  to  "  make  money  "  and  "  save  money  " 
and  "  lay  up  money  "  is  verily  the  chief,  if  not  the 
sole  object  which  he  must  steadily  keep  in  view. 
Toward  that  object  every  energy  is  to  be  directed. 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  59 

He  has  heard  his  father's  creed,  that  is  made  up  of 
various  time-honored  and  accredited  maxims  touch 
ing  "  the  way  to  get  rich ; "  and  to  "  get  rich  "  is  his 
highest  aim. 

"  As  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree 's  inclined." 

They  that  rock  the  cradle  rule  the  world.  The  child 
is  father  to  the  man ;  and  when  he  is  converted  to 
Christ  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  change  the  drift 
and  current  of  his  mind,  and  turn  it  in  a  benevolent 
direction.  Christian  parents  must  eschew  these  per 
nicious  maxims,  and  in  their  stead  teach  their  sons 
and  daughters  the  precepts  of  "  pure  religion."  They 
must  inculcate  the  lessons  of  industry  and  economy, 
that  their  children  form  not  indolent  or  prodigal  hab 
its,  but,  at  the  same  time,  teach  them  the  true  use  of 
riches ;  that  they  should  seek  property,  not  to  love  it, 
and  hoard  it  up  ;  but  to  scatter  it  abroad  as  a  means 
of  doing  good.  In  fine,  they  must  lead  them  to  un 
derstand  by  careful  instruction,  and  by  their  per 
sonal  example,  that  the  end  of  life  is  not  to  please 
themselves,  but  to  glorify  God. 

Ministers  of  the  gospel,  above  all,  have  a  most 
important  work  to  do  in  causing  this  unity  of  object 
to  become  more  prevalent.  First  of  all,  if  they  have 
lost  sight  of  the  one  great  object  .of  their  vocation, 
they  should  themselves  seek  for  purity  of  motive 
and  directness  of  aim.  And  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
in  this  matter,  the  ministers  as  well  as  the  churches 
come  far  short  of  attaining  to  the  inspired  standard. 
It  is  to  be  feared  that  some,  at  least,  within  the 
sacred  profession,  are  influenced  by  other  motives 
than  the  simple  desire  to  glorify  God  in  saving  souls. 


60  PRIMITIVE   PIETY  REVIVED. 

The  danger  of  being  actuated  by  personal  considera 
tions,  is  greater  than  is  generally  supposed.  It  re 
quires  much  prayer  and  constant  watchfulness,  in 
order  to  lose  sight  of  one's  self,  and  be  kept  entirely 
free  from  the  desire  and  attempt  to  please  his  fellow 
men  rather  than  God.  Alas  that  one  called  to 
"watch  for  souls,"  should  suffer  himself  to  be  di 
verted,  in  the  least  degree,  from  his  great  work,  by  a 
desire  to  accumulate  this  world's  goods  !  Alas  that 
one  should  expend  his  energies  in  preparing  to  dis 
play  his  wit ;  or,  by  culling  flowers  and  polishing  his 
sentences,  to  court  the  approbation  of  his  hearers, 
and  be  called  a  man  of  learning,  and  of  "  a  powerful 
imagination,"  an  "  eloquent  preacher !  "  The  min 
ister's  "  eye,"  above  all  other  men,  should  "  be  sin 
gle."  He  should  labor,  and  pray,  and  preach,  for  one 
tiling,  even  the  salvation  of  men.  He  is  surrounded 
by  dying  men,  whom  he  should  seek  with  all  his 
might  to  snatch  from  "  everlasting  burnings."  And 
should  these  words  meet  the  eye  of  one  who  has,  to 
any  extent,  become  indifferent  to  this  great  object,  to 
him,  especially,  is  commended  what  Baxter  has  said 
in  his  "  Reformed  Pastor : "  "  Many  a  time  have  I 
known  that  I  had  some  hearers  of  higher  fancies, 
that  looked  for  rarities,  and  were  addicted  to  despise 
the  ministry,  if  I  told  them  not  something  more  than 
ordinary ;  and  yet  I  could  not  find  it  in  my  heart  to 
turn  from  the  necessities  of  the  impenitent,  for  the 
humoring  of  them ;  nor  even  to  leave  speaking  to 
miserable  sinners  for  their  salvation,  in  order  to  speak 
so  much  as  should  otherwise  be  done  to  weak  saints, 
for  their  confirmation  and  increase  in  grace.  Me- 
thinks  as  Paul's  spirit  was  'stirred  within  him' 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  61 

when  he  saw  the  Athenians  '  wholly  given  to  idola 
try,'  so  it  should  cast  us  into  one  of  his  paroxysms, 
to  see  so  many  men  in  the  greatest  danger  of  being 
everlastingly  undone.  Methinks  that  if  by  faith  we 
did  indeed  look  upon  them  as  within  a  step  of  hell, 
it  would  more  effectually  untie  our  tongues,  than 
Croesus'  danger  did  his  son's.  He  that  will  let  a  sin 
ner  go  down  to  hell  for  want  of  speaking  to  him, 
doth  set  less  by  souls  than  did  the  Redeemer  of 
souls ;  and  less  by  his  neighbor  than  common  char 
ity  will  allow  him  to  by  his  greatest  enemy.  O, 
therefore,  brethren,  whomsoever  you  neglect,  neglect 
not  the  most  miserable !  Whatever  you  pass  over, 
forget  not  poor  souls  that  are  under  the  condemna 
tion  and  curse  of  the  law,  and  who  may  look  every 
hour  for  the  infernal  execution,  if  a  speedy  change 
do  not  prevent  it.  O  call  after  the  impenitent,  and 
ply  this  great  work  of  converting  souls,  whatever 
else  you  leave  undone." 

But  it  is  not  enough  that  the  minister  of  Christ 
possess  this  simplicity  of  purpose ;  he  must  secure 
its  existence,  so  far  as  lies  in  his  power,  on  the  part 
of  the  people  committed  to  his  charge.  This  is  to 
be  effected,  mainly,  by  unfolding  the  great  principles 
of  the  gospel,  in  their  application  to  secular  pursuits. 
The  relations  of  business  and  religion  need  to  be 
more  fully  developed.  Men  must  be  taught  to  bring 
their  worldly  avocations  within  the  pale  of  religion. 
They  must  be  educated  into  the  belief  that  laymen 
and  ministers  are  to  live  and  labor  for  ONE  and  the 
same  object,  though  in  the  matter  of  directness  there 
exists  a  difference  in  accomplishing  that  object.  It 
must  be  shown  to  them  that  secular  pursuits  may  be 

6 


62  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

made  sacred,  —  that  any  legitimate  calling,  if  pur 
sued  in  a  proper  manner,  and  with  right  ends,  is 
rendered,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  a  "  sacred 
calling,"  —  and  that  unless  it  is  rendered  such,  it  is 
pursued  in  a  manner  unworthy  of  the  Christian's 
high  vocation. 

At  this  very  point  business  men  imperatively  need 
the  help  of  the  pulpit.  It  is  high  time  that  it  was 
extended  to  them  by  the  more  frequent  discussion  of 
these  great  topics.  Who,  if  not  ministers,  shall  help 
those  who  are  called  to  grapple  with  the  tempta 
tions  and  trials  of  active  business  life,  to  entertain 
correct  views,  elevate  their  aim,  and  foster  an  abid 
ing  sense  of  their  obligations  to  God  and  their  fel 
low  men  ? 

Reader !  Have  you  adopted  as  yours  the  true  aim  of 
life  ?  And  is  its  attainment  the  object  of  your  most 
abiding,  your  strongest  desire?  Are  you  "jealous  for 
the  Lord  God  of  Hosts  ?  "  Are  you  watching  for  op 
portunities  of  doing  good?  Is  your  conversation  such 
as  becometh  saints  ?  And  your  speech,  is  it  always 
"  with  grace,  seasoned  with  salt  ?  "  Are  you  accus 
tomed  to  speak  a  word  for  Christ  when  you  may  ? 
and  in  your  intercourse  with  impenitent  men,  to 
speak  kindly  and  earnestly  to  them  of  Jesus  and 
eternity  ?  And  in  your  daily  labors,  do  you  toil  out 
of  love  to  Christ,  and  because  it  is  pleasing  to  God  ? 
Have  you,  in  a  word,  a  simplicity  of  aim  and  pur 
pose  to  serve  God?  Be  exhorted  to  examine  into 
your  motives,  and  answer  these  interrogations  hon 
estly,  as  in  the  sight  of  God.  "  The  heart  of  man  is 
deceitful ; "  and  even  the  true  Christian  may  imagine 
that  he  is  actuated  by  purely  benevolent  motives, 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  63 

when  at  the  same  time  it  is  quite  the  reverse.  Do 
not,  therefore,  dismiss  this  subject  until  you  have 
given  to  it  your  most  careful  and  prayerful  consid 
eration. 

Wicked  men  and  the  great  enemy  of  Christ  are 
bringing  accusations  against  God;  consider  your 
self  as  subpoenaed  to  witness  for  the  truth  :  "  Ye  are 
my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord."  You  are  as  truly 
called  to  diffuse  the  gospel  as  is  the  minister  to 
preach  it.  Indeed,  you  are  yourself  to  preach  it; 
personally,  by  the  fireside  and  the  way-side,  wherever 
and  whenever  you  find  an  unconverted  sinner ;  anc1 
indirectly  by  providing  for  its  dissemination  by  others. 
God  comes  to  you,  my  friend,  and  lays  his  claim 
upon  your  time  and  your  property,  upon  every 
power  of  your  body  or  mind,  and  every  affection  of 
your  heart.  Acknowledge  the  claim.  It  is  just. 
You  are  his  by  creation,  and  you  are  "redeemed 
with  a  price."  O  what  a  price!  Not  "with  cor 
ruptible  things,  as  silver  and  gold,"  but  "with  the 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  without  blem 
ish  and  without  spot."  "  The  precious  blood  of 
Christ !  "  If  he  has  given  his  "  blood  "  for  you,  is  it 
too  much  that  you  should  give  your  poor  imperfect 
services,  and  your  paltry  silver  and  gold  to  him?  In 
giving  it  to  his  cause  you  are  giving  it  to  him.  Pie 
accounts  as  done  for  himself  whatever  you  do  for 
one  whom  he  loves.  Arise,  then,  and  work  for 
Christ!  Go  about  "doing  good!"  Let  the  golden 
cord  of  love  bind  together  life's  threads  into  unity  of 
purpose,  and  you  shall  not  live  in  vain.  With  the 
beating  of  every  pulse  your  fellow-mortals  are  pass 
ing  to  their  fearful  doom  !  Another  hour,  and  hun- 


64  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

dreds  of  them  will  have  gone  !  Have  you  any  thing 
to  do  for  their  salvation  ?  Do  it  quickly,  —  do  it 
with  your  might!  Nor  be  less  diligent  to  save  from 
perdition  those  about  you ;  for  it  shall  be  more  toler 
able  for  the  heathen,  in  the  day  of  judgment,  than 
for  them. 

"  Christian,  view  the  day 

Of  Retribution  !     Think  how  ye  will  bear 
From  your  Redeemer's  lips  the  fearful  words, 
*  Thy  brother,  perishing  in  his  own  blood, 
Thou  saw'st.  —  Thy  brother  hungered,  was  athirst, 
Was  naked,  —  and  thou  saw'st  it.     He  was  sick, 
Thou  didst  withhold  the  healing ;  was  in  prison 
To  vice  and  ignorance,  —  nor  didst  thou  send 
To  set  him  free.'     Oh  !  ere  that  hour  of  doom, 
Whence  there  is  no  reprieve,  brother,  awake 
From  this  dark  dream ! " 


CHAPTER    III. 


SECOND  GRAND  DEFECT  IN  THE  PIETY  OF  THE  PRESENT 
DAY,  —  THE  WANT  OF  A  JUST  MEASURE  OF  CONSECRA 
TION  TO  GOD. 

Nature  of  Consecration.  —  Is  its  Spirit,  as  evinced  at  the  time  of  Conver 
sion,  retained  ?  —  Sin  of  robbing  God.  —  Unsanctified  Affections.  — 
Property  not  consecrated.  —  Koot  of  the  Evil.  —  Insidious  Nature  of 
Covetousness.  —  God's  Hatred  of  this  Sin.  —  Liability  of  being  contam 
inated  by  it. — Results  as  to  the  spread  of  the  Gospel.  —  Early  Disci 
ples  and  Moravians.  —  Cause  of  insufficient  Supply  of  Preachers.  — 
Of  Inefficiency  of  Prayer.  —  Where  to  apply  the  Remedy.  —  Alphabet 
of  the  Doctrine  of  Stewardship  not  yet  learned.  —  Heart  to  be  wholly 
consecrated.  —  Thus  escape  the  Perils  of  Wealth.  —  Power  within  and 
Impression  without.  —  Holiness  not  attained  without  Effort.  —  Why 
unsought.  —  Our  Lord  required  Eetirement.  —  Piety  sent  back  to 
Home-altar  and  Closet.  —  An  elevated  Standard.  —  Aids  in  attaining  it. 
—  Knowledge  of  Scripture  Doctrine.  —  Other  means  indicated.  — Per 
sonal  Interrogations.  —  Luther  in  the  Pulpit.  —  President  Edwards. — 
Tests  of  Covetousness. 

WHEN  the  people  of  Collatia  were  entering  into 
stipulations  about  their  surrender  to  the  authority 
and  protection  of  Rome,  the  question  was  asked, 
"  Do  you  deliver  up  yourselves,  the  Collatine  people, 
your  city,  your  fields,  your  water,  your  bounds,  your 
temples,  your  utensils,  all  things  that  are  yours,  both 
hnman  aud  divine,  into  the  hands  of  the  people  of 
Rome  ?  "  And,  on  their  replying,  "  we  deliver  up 
all,"  —  they  were  received. 

The  incident  affords  a  beautiful  illustration  of  a 
6*  (65) 


66  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

becoming'  consecration  to  God,  on  the  part  of  the 
believer,  —  a  subject  now  proposed  for  examination. 

The  first  duty  of  the  renewed  soul  is  to  gain  a  dis 
tinct  view  of  the  design  of  God  in  his  creation  and 
conversion.  The  question  which  he  should  honestly 
propose,  and  intelligently  and  prayerfully  settle,  is, 
"  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  "  Guided  by 
the  Scriptures  of  divine  truth,  he  perceives  that  the 
one  work  to  which  he  is  called,  is  the  promotion  of 
God's  glory  in  the  earth,  a  subject  already  consid 
ered.  As  the  next  step  in  the  path  of  duty,  he  is  to 
place  himself  in  a  position  to  accomplish  life's  great 
work  by  consecrating  to  that  end  all  his  powers  and 
possessions. 

The  claim  which  God  makes  upon  man,  as  has 
been  previously  stated,  covers  all  his  intellectual  and 
physical  energies,  all  his  property,  and  all  his  affec 
tions.  The  believer  is  cheerfully  to  respond  to  this 
demand  of  the  Almighty,  acknowledging  its  justness, 
and  saying  with  that  ancient  people  to  their  superi 
ors,  "  I  deliver  up  all." 

That  this  claim,  on  the  part  of  God,  is  just,  is 
obvious  from  the  simple  consideration  that  we  are 
his,  not  our  own :  his  by  creation  and  by  redemption. 
And  that  it  is  thus  comprehensive,  is  evident  from 
such  Scriptures  as  the  following :  "  Thou  shalt  love 
the  Lord  thy  God,  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind."  *  "  Glorify  God  in 
your  body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's."  f 
"  As  every  man  hath  received  the  gift,  even  so  min- 


*Matt.  22:  37.  f  1  Cor.  6:  20. 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  67 

ister  the  same  one  to  another,  as  good  stewards  of 
the  manifold  grace  of  God."  * 

The  nature  of  this  transaction  between  God  and 
man,  is  further  discoverable  in  the  character  of  one's 
exercises  when  awakened  to  a  sense  of  sin,  and  led 
to  inquire,  "what  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?"  Recur 
to  your  own  experience.  When  sensible  of  your 
guilt  and  danger,  —  when  weary  and  heavy  laden 
you  sought  for  rest,  —  did  the  Saviour  speak  peace 
to  your  troubled  soul,  until  you  were  ready  to  yield 
up  all  to  him?  —  until  you  could  from  the  heart 
exclaim, 

"  Lord,  I  make  a  full  surrender, 
Every  power  and  thought  be  thine ; 
Thine  entirely,  through  eternal  ages  thine  ?  " 

You  may  have  attempted,  for  a  time,  to  compromise 
the  matter;  and  virtually  said,  "Lord,  I  wish  to 
make  this  single  reservation,  —  I  wish  to  retain  one 
friend,  —  to  consider  as  mine  a  few  hundreds  of  dol- 
larS}  —  or  to  follow  my  favorite  pursuit,  and  not  for 
sake  every  tiling  for  thee."  But  all  in  vain.  You 
found  no  peace ;  the  burden  was  still  upon  the  soul : 
until,  at  last,  the  language  of  your  soul  was,  "  I  sur 
render,  Lord;  take  away  this  burden  of  sin,  and 
admit  me  into  thy  favor;  I  keep  back  nothing,  I 
deliver  up  all.  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  rne  to 
do?"  It  was  then,  and  'not  until  then,  that  you 
could  safely  lay  hold  of  the  hope  set  before  you  in 
the  gospel. 

Such  is  the  nature  of  an  adequate  Christian  con- 


*  1  Peter,  4:10. 


68  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

secration.  It  will  be  perceived  that  it  is  the  precise 
opposite  of  that  selfishness  that  reigns  in  the  natural 
heart.  And  this  abasement  of  self,  and  exaltation 
of  God,  is  the  grand  characteristic  of  that  holiness 
which  the  Scriptures  enjoin  upon  the  followers  of 
Jhrist.  For,  as  one  has  observed,  "  the  very  core  of 
all  religion  is  not  to  live  to  ourselves,  but  to  God ; 
not  to  consider  ourselves  our  own,  but  the  property 
and  servants  of  Jesus  Christ ;  not  to  feel  as  though 
we  are  set  up  in  the  world  to  work  for  ourselves,  to 
spend  the  most  of  our  time  in  promoting  what  is 
termed  our  innocent  gratifications,  but  to  hold  our 
time,  powers,  influence,  and  property,  'as  talents 
intrusted  to  us  to  be  used  for  Christ,  keeping  our 
eye  on  his  lips,  to  learn  his  will,  and  aiming  habitu 
ally  to  please  and  honor  him." 

But  is  that  spirit  of  entire  consecration  which 
characterizes  the  believer  as  he  enters  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  generally  retained,  or  is  it,  to  a  great  extent, 
soon  lost  ?  The  thought  of  withdrawing  from  God 
what  we  have  yielded  up  to  him,  is  one  from  which  we 
may  well  recoil.  Is  it  not,  indeed,  an  awful  sin,  — 
that  of  robbing  God  !  —  recalling  and  disowning  our 
solemn  vows!  —  promising  to  serve  and  obey  our 
Redeemer  wholly,  and  then,  when  once  in  a  supposed 
saved  state,  becoming  alienated  in  heart,  and  virtu 
ally  claiming  and  taking  back  from  him  what  we 
had  most  sacredly  surrendered  ? 

But  it  is  too  obvious  from  the  worldly,  unsanctl- 
fied  state  of  the  mass  of  God's  professed  people,  that 
they  have  thus  departed  from  the  vows  of  their  con 
secration.  What  an  apparent  inappropriateness,  if 
applied  to  Christians  of  our  day,  is  there  in  such 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  69 

expressions  of  the  Scriptures  as  the  following: 
"  dead  unto  sin,"  —  "  alive  unto  God,"  —  "  that  ye 
bear  much  fruit,"  —  "  the  world  is  crucified  unto  me, 
and  I  unto  the  world,"  —  "  crucified  with  Christ,"  — 
walking  "  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit,"  — 
"  not  conformed  to  this  world,"  but  "  transformed  by 
the  renewing  of  the  mind,"  —  "let  us  cleanse  our 
selves  from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  per 
fecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of  God,"  —  "  be  ye  holy 
for  I  am  holy,"  —  "filled  with  all  the  fulness  of 
God,"  — "  that  your  love  may  abound  more  and 
more,"  being  "  filled  with  all  the  fruits  of  righteous 
ness,"  —  "  perfect  in  every  good  work,"  —  "  sanctify 
you  wholly,"  — "  your  whole  spirit  and  soul  and 
body  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our 
Lord."  It  would  almost  seem  as  if  such  language 
were  descriptive  of  some  other  beings  than  our 
selves  ;  or,  that  it  must  be  some  way  modified,  before 
it  can  be  applicable  to  Christians  in  this  age.  Never 
theless,  it  is  the  divine  standard  of  consecration,  to 
which  believers  of  all  ages  are  commanded  to  at 
tain.  And  that  they  so  generally,  and  so  widely,  fail 
of  its  attainment,  is  a  fearful  omen  as  regards  the 
final  acceptance  of  many  in  heaven,  who  are  ac 
cepted  by  the  church  upon  earth.  It  justifies,  per 
haps,  the  strong  language  of  an  eminent  Christian 
minister,  wTho  says,  "  I  tremble  for  multitudes  all 
around.  Never,  no,  never  were  professors  more  in 
danger  of  self-deception  than  in  this  age.  If  the 
standard  of  true  religion  be  the  New  Testament, 
then,  no  small  portion  of  the  members  of  all  our 

churches    cannot   be    true    Christians Let 

any  one  study  the  Bible  descriptions  of  holiness,  — 


70  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

the  setting  forth  of  sanctification  as  we  find  it  in 
our  Lord's  sermon  on  the  mount,  —  the  sixth,  eighth, 
and  twelfth  chapters  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans, — 
the  thirteenth  of  the  first  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians, — 
the  third  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians 
and  Philippians, — and  the  address  of  our  Lord  to 
the  seven  churches  in  Asia,  in  the  book  of  Revela 
tion,  —  and  say  if  our  churches  will  stand  this 
test."* 

But  if  the  affections  of  Christians  are  not  wholly 
consecrated  to  God,  so  neither  are  their  possessions. 
It  is,  indeed,  true  that  there  are  few  who  do  not  in 
theory  understand  and  admit  the  doctrine  that  what 
they  possess  belongs  to  God,  —  that  their  property, 
their  children,  their  all,  they  simply  hold  as  stewards, 
the  command  being,  "  occupy  till  I  come."  But 
practically  this  doctrine  is  almost  universally  repu 
diated.  Into  but  few  minds  has  it  entered  as  an 
ever  abiding,  earnest  conviction. 

The  great  mass  of  property  in  the  Christian  church 
is  unconsecrated  property.  It  is  sought  and  possessed 
for  selfish  purposes ;  it  is  not  dedicated  to  God,  and 
used  with  an  eye  single  to  his  glory.  "  The  root "  of 
"  this  evil,"  is  the  love  of  money,  an  inordinate  love 
of  money,  generally  termed  covetousness,  —  the  easily 
besetting  sin  of  the  world,  —  the  great  foe  of  Chris 
tianity,  exceedingly  sly  and  artful,  exceedingly  liable 
to  escape  unsuspected  and  unreproved,  even  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Church.  For,  while  it  is  impossible 
for  a  profane  man  or  a  drunkard  to  maintain  a  repu 
table  standing  in  the  church,  a  covetous  man  may 

*  See  "  Course  of  Faith,"  p.  100. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  71 

do  this,  because  the  sin  is  within,  and,  perhaps,  be 
cause  the  avaricious  man  is  looked  upon  by  his 
brethren  too  charitably :  and  a  sin  in  which  it  is  be 
lieved  that  he  is  indulging,  is  not  made  a  matter  for 
admonition  and  church-discipline. 

Now  that  this  is  a  sin  peculiarly  displeasing  to 
God,  is  manifest  from  its  repeated  and  terrible  de 
nunciations  in  the  Scriptures.  Once  did  God  visibly 
mark  the  murderer,  (Gen.  4:  15,)  —  once  did  he 
inflict  an  awful  punishment  upon  the  Sabbath- 
breaker,  (Numb.  15:  36,) — once  did  he  cause  the 
visible  penalty  to  be  visited  upon  the  head  of  the 
blasphemer,  (Lev.  24:  10,  15,)  but  how  many  fell 
beneath  his  displeasure  for  the  violation  of  the  com 
mand,  "  Thou  shall  not  covet!"  Achan  saw  the 
Babylonish  garment  and  the  golden  wedge,  and  he 
"  coveted  them  and  took  them,"  and  for  the  act  was 
stoned  to  death.  Lot,  out  of  the  love  of  gain  en 
tered  the  wicked  city,  became  involved  in  grossly 
sinful  acts,  and  finally  was  stripped  of  all  his  posses 
sions.  Judas  sold  his  Lord  for  gain,  and  how  fearful 
his  end !  And  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  through  cov- 
etousness  and  hypocrisy  stained  the  glory  of  the 
primitive  church,  and  were  smitten  down  by  the 
wrath  of  the  Almighty.  It  is  a  sin  which  God  has 
classed  and  made  synonymous  with  the  abomina 
tions  of  the  heathen  world,  —  idolatry.  "  This  ye 
know  that  no  whoremonger,  nor  unclean  person,  nor 
covetous  man  who  is  an  idolater,  hath  any  inheri 
tance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God."  "  Mor 
tify,  therefore,  your  members inordinate 

affection,  evil  concupiscence,  and  covetousness  which 
is  idolatry,  for  which  things'  sake  the  wrath  of  God 


72  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

cometh  on  the  children  of  disobedience."  "  Nor 
thieves,  nor  covetous,  nor  drunkards,  nor  revilers,  nor 
extortioners,  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God." 
And  it  is  marked  as  one  of  the  grand  features  of  the 
final  apostasy :  "  This  know,  also,  that  in  the  last 
days  perilous  times  shall  come.  For  men  shall  be 
lovers  of  their  own  selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud, 
blasphemers,"  etc. 

Nor  is  it  surprising  that  this  sin  is  represented  as 
so  exceedingly  aggravated ;  for  it  is  the  "  monopoly 
of  guilt;"  it  combines  and  absorbs  into  itself  all 
other  species  of  wickedness.  "  Could  we  only  see 
it  embodied,  what  a  monster  should  we  behold !  Its 
eyes  have  no  tears.  With  more  than  the  fifty  hands 
of  the  fabled  giant,  it  grasps  at  every  thing  around. 
In  its  march  through  the  world,  it  has  been  accom 
panied  by  artifice  and  fraud,  rapine  and  injustice, 
cruelty  and  murder;  while  behind  it  have  dragged 
heavily  its  swarms  of  victims,  —  humanity  bleeding, 
and  justice  in  chains,  and  religion  expiring  under  its 
heavy  burdens,  orphans  and  slaves  and  oppressed 
hirelings,  —  a  wailing  multitude,  reaching  to  the 
skirts  of  the  horizon."  * 

And  yet,  our  extreme  liability  to  become  contami 
nated  by  this  awful  sin,  is  apparent  from  those  very 
denunciations ;  from  the  history  of  our  race  ;  from 
the  depravity  of  our  nature;  and  from  the  many 
warnings  against  its  insidious  approach.  "  Take 
heed"  said  our  Saviour,  " and  beware  of  covetousness : " 
that  is,  Be  on  your  watch  against  it ;  have  a  singular 
and  special  regard  to  it ;  as  if  it  were  a  stealthy  foe ; 


*  Dr.  Harris  in  Mammon,  p.  138. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  73 

like  the  imaginary  demon,  which  was  fabled  to  slyly 
approach  and  suck  the  blood  of  persons  while  they 
were  asleep. 

Alas,  that  facts  should  so  abundantly  justify  the 
necessity  of  such  warnings !  Alas,  that  with  them 
all,  so  many  should  fall  beneath  its  power,  and  pierce 
their  souls  through  with  many  sorrows!  What  open 
apostasy  has  it  caused  among  professed  Christians ! 
How  many  who  "did  run  well"  have  been  "hin 
dered"  by  the  golden  bait  that  fell  in  their  path! 
There  are  doubtless  many  in  our  churches  who  are 
guilty  of  this  sin,  and,  at  the  same  time  utterly  un 
conscious  of  it.  The  frosts  of  autumn  and  winter 
creep  over  the  meadow,  knit  their  transparent  cover 
ing  upon  the  face  of  the  pools,  and  seal  up  the  run 
ning  streams,  so  gradually  and  noiselessly  as  to  elude 
all  observation.  So  has  this  accursed  love  of  money 
crept  upon  many  a  heart,  chilled  its  warm  out-gush- 
ings,  and  wellnigh  frozen  up  the  very  fountains  of 
benevolence ;  and  yet  so  insidiously  has  the  fearful 
process  advanced,  that  the  individual  has  perceived 
it  not. 

And  let  it  not  be  supposed  that  this  representation 
applies  to  the  rich  alone.  It  is  a  common  belief  that 
men  of  wealth,  principally,  if  not  exclusively,  are 
exposed  to  covetousness ;  and  hence  the  poor,  and 
those  of  limited  means,  are  more  readily  drawn  into 
its  snare.  The  former  class  may  be  more  liable  to 
indulge  cupidity  than  the  latter;  nevertheless,  a  man 
who  has,  or  desires,  but  a  small  sum,  may  set  his 
heart  just  as  firmly  upon  those  few  hundreds  of  dol 
lars,  as  does  the  rich  man  upon  his  many  thousands. 
Indeed,  the  circumstance  of  limited  means,  and  the 
7 


PRIMITIVE   PIETF   REVIVED. 

necessity  of  industry  and  economy,  very  naturally 
lead  to  a  parsimonious  spirit.  Beyond  question  a 
frequent  method  of  approach  on  the  part  of  this  de 
ceitful  sin,  is  by  soliciting  the  poor  man,  under  this 
very  disguise.  «  It  may  yoke  him  as  a  captive  to  its 
car,  though  he  may  appear  to  be  only  keeping  pov 
erty  at  bay.  He  need  not  plunge  into  the  ocean  in 
order  to  drown  himself,  —  a  very  shallow  stream  will 
suffice,  if  he  chooses  to  lie  prostrate  in  it ;  and  the 
desire  of  the  smaUest  gain,  if  his  neart  be  immersed 
in  the  pursuit,  will  as  surely  <  drown  him  in  perdi 
tion,'  as  if  the  object  of  his  cupidity  were  the  wealth 
of  a  Croesus." 

With  these  considerations  before  the  mind,  who 
can  doubt  but  that  this  immoderate  love  of  ourselves 
and  the  things  wherewith  we  are  intrusted,  and,  con 
sequently,  this  robbing  of  God  by  not  yielding  up  to 
him  that  which  is  his  due,  is  a  most  frequent,  as  well 
as  aggravated  sin?  And  what  are  its  consequences 
and  practical  results  ?  Fearful  in  the  extreme. 

Hence  languishes  the  cause  of  missions ;  lying, 
like  Lazarus  at  the  gate  of  Opulence,  where  Chris 
tians  fare  sumptuously  every  day,  or,  like  a  crouch 
ing  mendicant,  "wandering  among  the  churches, 
soliciting  with  a  pauper's  importunity  the  shreds  and 
parings  of  liberal  incomes,  and  then  proclaiming  at 
every  corner  the  name  and  residence  of  every  donor 
of  a  half  shekel,  lest,  forsooth,  unless  his  reluctantly 
bestowed  contribution  should  be  loudly  trumpeted, 
he  might  cease  to  care  for  the  will  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  lose  his  interest  in  the  salvation  of  a  world,  and 
the  missionary  treasury  feel  no  more  of  the  overflow 
ings  of  his  benevolence." 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  75 

How  changed  the  scene  were  each  believer  to 
arise  in  the  dignity  of  a  child  of  the  Most  High,  and 
from  the  heart  exclaim, 

"  Here  on  thy  altar,  Lord,  I  lay 

My  soul,  my  life,  my  all ; 
To  follow  where  thou  lead'st  the  way, 
To  obey  thy  every  call ! " 

Thus  entire  was  the  consecration  of  the  disciples 
who  composed  the  first  gospel  church ;  and  who  has 
not  been  impressed  with  this  perfect  conformity,  in 
their  lives  and  manners,  with  the  principles  of  relig 
ion?     Read  the  second  chapter  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  and  behold  what  a  happy  community  of 
sentiment  and  feeling,  and  what  a  generous  and  un 
affected  liberality  to   all  the  brethren.     Neither  by 
the  teachings  of  our  Lord,  nor  of  the  apostles,  was  it 
enjoined  upon  the  members  of  this  infant  body  to 
give  up  their  property  into  a  common  stock ;  for  it  is 
asked  of  one,  "while  it  remained  was  it  not  thine 
own,  and  after  it  was  sold,  was  it  not  in  thine  own 
power?"    but,  with   an  entire  voluntariness,  those 
who  had  possessions,  without  the  least   hesitancy 
parted  with  them,  that  the  less  favored  might  be 
supplied.      "  The  multitude   of  them  that  believed 
were  of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul,  neither  said  any  of 
them  that  ought  of  the  things  which  he  possessed  WAS 
His  OWN."     As  one  has  observed,  "  they  possessed  as 
not  possessing,  regarding  all  but  as  held  in  trust  for 
the  Lord's  service,  and  always  ready  for  any  claims 
which  that  service  made."*     The  presence  of  this 


*  Kitto  in  Apostles  and  Early  Church. 


76  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

spirit,  or  even  an  approximation  to  it,  would  secure 
for  our  mission  treasuries,  millions  where  now  there 
are  but  hundreds  or  thousands. 

The  Moravians  are  few  in  number,  not  exceeding 
twenty  thousand,  and  possessed  of  but  compara 
tively  little  wealth,  and  yet  they  sustain  seventy 
missionary  stations  with  two  hundred  missionaries, 
at  an  annual  expense  of  $60,000.*  If  the  members 
of  evangelical  churches  in  the  United  States  con 
tributed,  severally,  in  the  same  proportion,  for  foreign 
missionary  purposes,  more  than  eleven  millions  of 
dollars  would  be  received ;  a  sum  four  times  greater 
than  that  now  received  from  all  the  churches  of  both 
England  and  America ;  and  fourteen  times  greater 
than  that  contributed  by  the  churches  in  the  United 
States.  O  that  even  this  measure  of  the  spirit  of 
primitive  piety  generally  obtained  !  For  want  of  its 
presence  how  lingers  the  world's  salvation ! 

Moreover  it  is  precisely  this  defect  in  our  piety, 
this  want  of  an  adequate  Christian  consecration, 
that  underlies  the  whole  matter  of  ministerial  desti 
tution.  "  How  many  there  are  in  our  churches,"  to 
adopt  the  language  of  an  able  religious  journal, 
"who  are  lamenting  the  paucity  of  ministers,  per 
haps  that  they  cannot  find  one  for  their  own  church, 
—  lamenting  that  so  few  young  men  are  candidates 
for  the  sacred  office,  —  lamenting  the  want  of  unre 
served  and  sustained  zeal  in  the  ministry,  —  who,  if 


*  It  has  been  recently  stated  that  money  is  contributed  for  the 
support  of  these  missions,  by  individuals  in  England,  who  do  not 
belong  to  the  Moravian  church ;  but  to  what  amount  it  does  not 
appear. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  77 

they  would  question  their  own  hearts,  would  find 
that  they  would  be  unwilling  themselves  to  be  min 
isters,  or  to  have  their  sons  or  brothers  the  subjects 
of  such  a  lot."  And  well  is  it  added,  "  here  lies  the 
difficulty,  —  in  this  half-hearted  consecration  to 
Christ.  Time  was  when  mothers  knelt  over  their 
children  in  the  cradle,  and  prayed  that  God  would 
make  them  ministers ;  —  now  how  many  pray  that 
God  would  make  them  any  thing  else !  Time  was 
when  the  churches  sought  out  acceptable  gifts,  and 
urged  the  possessors  to  a  work,  which,  though  hard 
and  responsible,  was  an  honorable  distinction ;  now, 
alas,  the  general  indisposition  to  the  ministry,  ren 
ders  it  a  painful  thing  to  ask  anybody  to  enter  it. 
At  any  rate,  not  the  rich  must  give  their  sons  to  the 
work ;  they  may  be  lawyers,  physicians,  merchants ; 
the  poor  only  must  be  taken,  and  the  rich  that  with 
hold  their  own  sons  may  compromise  with  the 
Saviour  of  their  souls  by  contributing  to  the  Edu 
cation  Society.  God  forgive  us  all !  The  mischief 
is  a  radical  one.  It  is  found  in  our  meagre  notions 
of  Christian  consecration  and  Christian  duty.  We 
may  lament  as  much  as  we  will ;  we  may  multiply 
colleges  and  theological  seminaries  to  any  extent; 
but  until  we  have  a  spirit  of  consecration  in  our 
churches,  such  as  shall  make  us  all  willing  to  be 
ministers,  if  that  were  Christ's  will,  and  to  have  our 
sons  and  brothers  ministers,  whatever  our  rank  or 
station  in  life  may  be,  and  to  account  even  hardness 
an  acceptable  service,  we  shall  still  find  the  harvest 
plenteous  and  the  laborers  few." 

And  to  what  other  cause  than  that  herein  indi 
cated  shall  be  ascribed  our  inefficiency  in  prayer  and 

7* 


78  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

other  Christian  duties?  The  Scriptures  speak  of 
"praying  with  all  prayer,"  praying  "without  ceas 
ing,"  and  of  the  "  fervent,  effectual  prayer "  that 
"  availeth  much ; "  and  they  record  instances  not  a 
few  of  the  power  of  prayer  to  move  the  arm  that  moves 
the  world.  Occasionally  men  who  are  mighty  with 
God  are  met  with  in  our  day.  Perhaps  they  are 
ministers  of  the  gospel ;  and  as  was  said  of  one, 
when  they  pray,  "  it  is  right  into  the  heart  of  God," 
and  when  they  preach,  "  it  is  right  into  the  heart  of 
the  sinner."  But  are  not  such  men  always  and  em 
inently  the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  consecrated 
to  the  Master's  service,  and  surrounded  by  the  atmos 
phere  of  the  throne  ?  And  can  we  look  for  a  large 
increase  of  their  number,  until  the  Spirit  be  poured 
out  upon  us  from  on  high ;  regenerating,  as  it  were, 
our  regeneration,  converting  our  conversion,  and  lift 
ing  us  into  a  higher  and  holier  communion  with 
God? 

But  why  need  we  specify  ?  It  is  not  one,  but 
every  branch  of  Christian  duty  that  suffers  from  this 
defect.  Because  of  it  we  are  straitened  in  every 
part,  and  all  our  interests  drag  heavily.  Here,  then, 
the  remedy  must  be  applied.  Deliverance  will  never 
be  vouchsafed  to  us  except  on  one  condition,  —  our 
fidelity  to  God.  Thus  saith  the  Lord :  «  Bring  ye  all 
the  tithes  into  the  storehouse,  that  there  may  be 
meat  in  mine  house,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  if 
I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and 
pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room 
enough  to  receive  it." 

Om  possessions  must  be  consecrated  anew  to  God. 
They  must  be,  practically,  considered  as  not  ours,  but 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  79 

God's.  They  are  his.  His  are  the  gold  and  the  sil 
ver  and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills ;  and  what 
ever  is  found  in  our  hands  is  lent  to  us  to  occupy  for 
the  interests  of  the  great  Proprietor.  This  must  be 
more  generally  felt  and  acknowledged.  The  whole 
property  question  needs  to  be  reexamined.  It  is  but 
half  understood.  There  are  thousands  of  men  in  our 
churches  who,  notwithstanding  all  that  is  said  of 
Christian  stewardship,  do  not  comprehend  the  alpha 
bet  of  this  doctrine.  They  plan,  and  toil,  and  accu 
mulate,  to  pamper  their  passions,  and  never  dream 
that  they  are  embezzling  the  Lord's  property.  Accuse 
them-  of  fraudulently  appropriating  to  their  own  use 
the  money  or  goods  intrusted  to  their  care  and  man 
agement  by  the  government,  or  by  a  company,  or  an 
individual,  and  their  quick  resentment  will  show  how 
clearly  they  discover  the  criminal  character  of  such 
a  transaction.  Did  they  as  clearly  perceive  the  guilt 
involved  in  hoarding  up  the  LORD'S  goods,  or  appro 
priating  them,  to  an  unjustifiable  extent,  to  their  own 
use,  would  it  be  possible  to  silence  the  clamors  of 
conscience,  or  carry  an  unblushing  face  in  the  sight 
of  God  or  men  ?  Surely  there  is  guilt  in  the  latter 
case  as  well  as  in  the  former.  In  neither  case  is 
there  any  real  proprietorship.  In  the  former  it  will 
be  acknowledged  there  is  none ;  on  what  ground  can 
it  be  supposed  to  exist  in  the  latter  ?  Is  it  the  fact 
that  the  property  has  been  accumulated  by  active 
industry  ?  It  has  been  but  accumulated ;  its  ele 
ments  were  always  in  existence.  They  owe  their 
origin  to  God ;  and  by  continuing  them  in  existence 
he  every  moment  asserts  his  right  to  them.  More 
over,  he  imparted  the  ability  and  skill  necessary  to 


80  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

their  collection  and  combination.  Hence  it  is  writ- 
ten,  "  Thou  must  remember  the  Lord  thy  God,  for  it 
is  he  that  giveth  thee  power  to  get  wealth : "  and 
hence  also  we  are  cautioned  against  saying  in  our 
hearts,  "  my  power,  and  the  might  of  my  own  hand 
hath  gotten  me  this  wealth."  Therefore  all  that 
which  men  call  their  property  is  really  the  Lord's. 
He  has  never  transferred  his  title  to  it,  but  holds  us 
strictly  accountable  for  its  use. 

Would  that  it  were  universally  and  practically  so 
considered.  Would  that  every  recollection  of  prop 
erty  were  associated  with  the  recollection  of  God  as 
its  supreme  owner.  How  much  of  misdirected  expen 
diture  were  then  turned  into  channels  of  benevolence ! 
How  much  wealth  now  wholly  unavailable  were 
consecrated  to  Christ's  service ! 

When  Oliver  Cromwell  visited  Yorkminster  Cathe 
dral,  in  England,  his  attention  was  drawn  to  twelve 
statues  of  the  apostles,  in  silver,  which  stood  in  their 
appropriate  niches  near  the  ceiling  of  one  of  the 
apartments.  Looking  upon  them  for  a  moment,  he 
inquired,  "  Who  are  those  fellows  standing  yonder  ?  " 
And  on  being  informed,  he  exclaimed,  "  Take  them 
down,  and  let  them  go  about  doing  good."  Accord 
ingly  they  were  melted  down  and  put  into  his  treas 
ury.  So  let  a  right  sentiment  as  to  Christian  stew 
ardship  once  obtain,  and  many  a  wealthy  professor, 
as  he  surveyed  his  splendid  establishment,  would  be 
constrained  to  convert  his  extravagant  decorations 
and  costly  plate  into  money  for  the  Lord's  treasury ; 
thus  sending  them  forth  on  the  sublime  errand  of 
doing  good.  Nor  the  wealthy  alone,  but  all  classes, 
were  this  sentiment  to  obtain,  would  join  in  the  glo- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  81 

rious  reform,  until  the  present  system  of  selfishness 
were  entirely  broken  up,  and  the  cause  of  benevo 
lence  made  to  wear  an  aspect  altogether  new.  But 
that  which  is  most  necessary,  nay,  is  absolutely 
essential  to  the  best  interests  of  all  that  is  sacred,  is 
a  renewed  and  entire  consecration  of  the  heart  to 
him  who  claims  our  supreme  love. 

As  has  been  already  intimated,  the  church  of  Christ 
has  become  extensively  secularized.  Once  it  was  in 
deed  a  peculiar  people.  It  required  no  reference  to 
written  documents  to  ascertain  whether  a  man  were 
a  Christian.  Every  adherent  to  the  true  faith  was  a 
"  living  epistle  known  and  read  of  all  men ; "  and  all 
"  took  knowledge  "  of  him  that  he  "  had  been  with 
Jesus." 

But  alas,  how  different  in  our  day!  "  How  is  the 
gold  become  dim !  how  is  the  most  fine  gold 
changed ! "  The  line  which  should  clearly  divide 
the  church  from  the  world  has  become  indistinct, 
and  the  two  classes  would  almost  appear  to  be 
blended  in  one.  Their  pursuit  of  the  vanities  of 
earth  appears  equally  earnest  and  unremitting ;  and 
their  love  of  self  and  the  pleasures  of  life  equally 
strong.  It  would  seem  that  the  mass  of  professors 
are  trying  the  fearful  experiment  of  determining  with 
how  little  true  godliness  a  .man  may  get  to  heaven. 
There  is  not  growth  and  development  in  the  piety 
of  Christians  generally.  Instead  of  "growing  in 
grace"  from  the  point  of  their  conversion  onward, 
there  is  oftentimes  a  satisfaction  with  present  attain 
ments,  if  not  an  absolute  retrogression.  Instead  of 
"  being  filled  with  the  spirit,"  the  holy  influence  is 
wellnigh  quenched  with  the  tide  of  worldliness. 


82  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

There  is  not  enough  of  religion  in  the  church.  It  is 
not  only  deficient  in  character  but  in  measure.  It 
was  the  aspiration  of  the  apostle  that  his  brethren 
might  be  "  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints  what 
is  the  length  and  breadth  and  depth  and  height  of 
the  love  of  God,  and  know  that  love  which  passeth 
knowledge,  and  be  filled  ivith  all  the  fulness  of  God.r 

And  it  is  for  want  of  this  fulness  of  God,  that 
we  most  suffer.  We  may  talk  about  the  modes 
and  methods  and  measures  and  machinery  of  doing 
good,  and  render  them  never  so  perfect ;  yet,  after 
all,  while  so  deficient  in  goodness  ourselves,  we  shall 
impart  little  of  it  to  others.  The  sun  is  full  of  heat 
and  light ;  and  it  asks  no  questions  as  to  how  it 
shall  do  good,  but  is  perpetually  pouring  out  its 
golden  flood.  The  spring  that  sparkles  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill  is  full;  and  asking  leave  of  no  one,  is  for 
ever  welling  forth  its  sweet  waters.  So  the  Chris 
tian,  if  only  full  of  the  love  of  God  and  man,  were 
shedding  around  him  benign  influences  as  a  natural 
result.  He  could  not  help  doing  good.  Regardless 
as  to  the  mode  and  time  and  place,  he  were  every 
where,  and  ^y  all  means,  in  season  and  out  of  sea 
son,  dropping  blessings  from  his  beneficent  heart  and 
hand. 

This  exuberance  of  piety  accounts,  in  a  great  meas 
ure,  for  the  success  of  the  early  Christians.  If  the 
papal  hierarchy  had  been  in  existence  when  the  con 
version  of  the  Roman  empire  was  first  proposed,  and 
had  undertaken  the  work,  much  time  had  been  spent 
in  the  adjustment  of  forms,  in  graduating  official 
titles  and  robes  and  ranks,  and  in  settling  upon 
well-concerted  plans  of  operation.  But  instead  of  all 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  83 

this,  the  disciples,  each  for  himself,  first  drew  near  to 
the  Great  Fountain  of  life  and  love,  in  earnest 
prayer,  and  ceased  not  until  lie  was  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  power  from  on  high.  Then  went 
they  forth  to  herald  the  tidings  of  the  great  salvation. 
They  went  from  the  spontaneous  and  irrepressible 
power  of  religion  in  their  hearts.  Theirs  was  the 
experience  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah  :  "  His  word  was 
in  mine  heart  as  a  burning'  fire  shut  up  in  my  bones, 
and  I  was  weary  with  forbearing,  and  I  could  not 
stay."  Thus  were  they  possessed  by  the  one  great 
fact  of  the  gospel  —  the  death  of  Christ  for  man's 
salvation  —  and  they  broke  that  message  upon  the 
ear  of  whomsoever  they  met,  because  it  was  the  out- 
bursting1  of  a  spontaneous  and  irrepressible  force.  It 
is  a  piety  such  as  this  that  is  requisite.  Always  im 
portant,  it  is  now  indispensable.  It  is  essential,  not- 
only  to  the  saving  of  unconverted  men,  but  also  to 
the  saving  of  Christians  from  the  corrupting  influ 
ences  by  which  they  are  beset. 

The  perils  to  which  many  are  exposed,  simply 
from  commerce  and  wealth,  are  imminent  in  the  ex 
treme.  Men  are  everywhere  making  haste  to  get 
rich.  Not  content  to  plod  for  wealth,  the  spirit  of 
speculation  and  bold  adventure  is  abroad ;  and  all 
branches  of  trade  and  pursuit  are  thrown  open  to 
the  most  unrestricted  competition.  The  desire  for 
gain  is  stimulated  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  never 
was  it  so  largely  successful  as  it  has  been  within  a 
few  years  past.  We  are  fast  becoming  a  wealthy 
people.  It  is  announced  that  the  real  estate  of  the 
single  city  of  New  York  has  already  risen  to  the 


84  PRIMITIVE   TIETY   REVIVED. 

enormous  amount  of  nearly  five  hundred  millions  of 
dollars,  the  increase  of  one  year  being  estimated  at 
eighty-seven  millions  of  dollars,  and  the  increase  of 
extravagant  expenditure  is  even  still  greater.  This 
may  be  an  extreme  case ;  but  who  has  failed  to 
observe,  that  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  in  all 
pursuits,  there  has  been,  of  late,  an  unprecedented 
progress  in  the  accumulation  of  property?  What 
this  nation  will  become  at  the  present  and  prospec 
tive  rate  of  progress,  it  is  impossible  to  conjecture. 
But  one  thing  is  certain  from  all  this :  Christian 
character  is  to  be  subjected  to  a  most  severe  ordeal. 
What  will  be  the  result  ?  Will  men  acquire  much 
of  this  world's  goods,  and  yet  set  their  affections,  not 
upon  these  things  on  the  earth,  but  upon  those  things 
which  are  in  heaven  ?  Will  Mammon  stalk  abroad 
among  us,  and  Christians  still  refuse  to  bow  down 
before  his  shrine  ?  Will  fashion,  pleasure,  and  prefer 
ment  everywhere  allure,  and  yet  Christians  stand  firm  ? 
Will  successful  enterprise  carry  men  to  elevated 
points  in  social  position,  and  yet  they  retain  the 
sweet  simplicity  and  humility  of  their  first  love? 
Will  they  gain  money  and  not  love  money  ?  Will 
they  become  rich  and  not  fall  into  temptations,  and 
many  a  foolish  and  hurtful  lust  ?  Ah !  these  are 
questions  of  momentous  interest!  How  does  the 
heart  of  the  true  disciple  ache  and  throb  as  he  con 
templates  them!  How  involuntary,  and  yet  how 
earnest  his  prayer,  God  save  them  from  the  impending 
evil !  And  what  is  our  hope  in  these  perilous  times, 
except  a  well-developed  piety  in  the  Christian 
church !  Only  let  there  be  the  indwelling  of  Christ, 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  85 

—  the  fulness  of  God,  —  the  breadth  and  depth  of 
sanctified  affection  that  characterized  the  early  disci 
ples,  and  all  is  well,  while  without  it  all  is  lost. 

We  have  alluded  to  but  one  class  of  corrupting 
influences  to  which  Christians  of  the  present  time 
are  peculiarly  exposed.  It  is  not  needful  to  recur  to 
others,  to  enforce  the  argument  which  they  afford  for 
a  more  entire  consecration  to  God.  But  let  it  be 
observed,  that  this  is  not  only  necessary  to  enable 
the  church  to  resist  evil,  but  also  that  she  may  be 
able  to  subdue  the  world  to  Christ.  There  must  be 
power  within,  before  there  is  impression  without. 
We  shall  poorly  succeed  in  inducing  others  to  yield 
up  their  hearts  to  God,  until  we  have  fully  yielded 
up  our  own  hearts.  Or,  as  another  has  observed, 
how  can  we  expect  to  reclaim  the  world  to  Christ, 
when  large  tracts  of  our  own  character  are  unre 
claimed  ;  when  the  most  fruitful  and  cherished  tracts 
within  us  are  pagan  tracts,  where  the  objects  and 
idols  of  sense  are  worshipped  ? 

Piety  purifies  and  elevates  the  motives,  directs 
and  energizes  the  active  powers,  and  gives  solidity 
and  strength  to  the  whole  moral  being.  Were  an 
adequate  consecration  generally  to  obtain,  existing 
errors  and  imperfections  in  the  church  would  not 
only  disappear  without  further  controversy,  but,  with 
no  addition  to  her  present  numerical  strength,  her 
efforts  for  the  world's  salvation  would  be  incalcula 
ble  and  irresistible.  And  until  this  does  obtain,  no 
relief  will  be  found  for  difficulties  and  perplexities 
under  which  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer  now  labors. 
Unconverted  men  will  still  live  unconverted  around 
us,  —  our  benevolent  enterprises  will  be  still  embar- 
8 


86  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

rassed  for  want  of  funds,  and  the  nations  will  still  sit 
in  darkness. 

Timely  and  true  are  the  words  of  one  who  has 
said,  "  never  will  the  church  meet  her  responsibilities 
until  her  children,  bursting  asunder  the  shackles  that 
bind  them,  and  rising  out  of  the  slough  of  earthliness 
in  which  they  are  sunk,  come  up  to  that  high  meas 
ure  of  evangelical  sanctification  which  the  voice  of 
Scripture  and  the  exigencies  of  a  dying  world  alike 
demand  of  them.  There  is  a  moral  omnipotence  in 
holiness.  Argument  may  be  resisted,  persuasion 
and  entreaty  may  be  scorned.  The  thrilling  appeals 
and  monitions  of  the  pulpit,  set  forth  with  all  the 
vigor  of  logic,  and  all  the  glow  of  eloquence,  may 
be  evaded  or  disregarded.  But  the  exhibition  of 
exalted  piety,  has  a  might  which  nothing  can  with 
stand  ;  it  is  truth  embodied ;  it  is  the  gospel  burning 
in  the  hearts,  beaming  from  the  eyes,  breathing  from 
the  lips,  and  preaching  in  the  lives  of  its  votaries. 
No  sophistry  can  elude  it,  no  conscience  can  ward  it 
off;  no  bosom  wears  a  mail  that  can  brave  the 
energy  of  its  attack.  It  speaks  in  all  languages,  in 
all  climes,  and  to  all  phases  of  our  nature.  It  is  uni 
versal,  invincible;  and  clad  in  immortal  panoply, 
goes  on  from  victory  to  victory. 

"Let  Zion,  through  all  her  departments,  but  reach 
this  elevated  point,  and  how  rapid  and  triumphant 
would  be  her  progress!  With  what  overpowering 
demonstration  would  her  tidings  be  attended !  What 
numerous  and  ever-flowing  channels  would  pour  into 
her  treasury  the  requisite  means ;  and  what  hosts  of 
her  consecrated  sons  would  stand  forth,  to  publish  on 
every  shore  the  mandates  of  her  king!  And  how 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  87 

richly  would  the  showers  of  divine  influence  be  shed 
down,  quickening  into  life  the  seed  which  she  scatters, 
filling  the  desolate  places  with  verdure  and  joy,  and 
changing  this  blighted  earth  into  the  garden  of  the 
Lord!"* 

And  let  it  be  also  observed,  that  this  high  degree 
of  consecration  is  to  be  gained  only  in  connection 
with  earnest  effort  for  its  attainment.  The  truth 
here  indicated  is  often  lost  sight  of;  a  circumstance 
which  renders  it  more  important  that  it  be  well  con 
sidered.  How  little  time  is  spent  in  the  cultivation 
of  piety,  by  the  majority  of  Christians!  How  few 
and  feeble  are  their  efforts  for  greater  attainments  in 
holiness !  How  little  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
righteousness!  How  little  watching  and  praying, 
and  laboring  and  striving  to  become  more  completely 
sanctified  in  heart  and  life ! 

This  is  not  in  keeping  with  the  analogy  of  things ; 
for  though  every  good  gift  is  from  above,  yet  it  comes 
not  to  us  without  exertion  on  our  part.  It  is  most 
certainly  true  of  the  glorious  gift  of  sanctification. 
Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  in  a  letter  to  a  pious  young 
lady,  advises  her  "  to  keep  as  great  a  strife  and  ear 
nestness  in  religion  "  as  if  she  knew  herself  to  be  in 
a  state  of  nature,  and  were  seeking  conversion.  He 
Bays  of  converts,  "they  ought  not  to  be  the  less 
watchful,  laborious,  and  earnest  in  the  whole  work 
of  religion,  but  the  more  so,  for  they  are  under  infi 
nitely  greater  obligations."  And  he  reminds  her  that 
for  want  of  this,  many  persons,  in  a  few  months  after 
their  conversion,  have  begun  to  lose  their  sweet  and 


*  Rev.  George  B.  Ide,  D.  D. 


88  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

lively  sense  of  spiritual  things,  and  to  grow  cold  and 
dark;  whereas  if  they  had  imitated  the  apostle  (Phil. 
3 :  12)  their  path  would  have  been  as  a  "  shining 
light  that  shines  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect 
day." 

And  by  reference  to  the  Scriptures  we  shall  find 
that  those  of  ancient  times  who  were  eminent  for 
piety,  became  and  continued  such  not  without  a  con 
stant  struggle.  Hence  the  frequent  allusions  to  cru 
cifying  the  flesh,  and  mortifying  the  lusts  thereof; 
and  to  seeking  after  God,  oftentimes  with  protracted 
humiliation  and  fasting  and  prayer.  Hence  also 
the  language  of  an  apostle,  "  This  one  thing  I  do, 
forsaking  those  things  which  are  behind,  and  reach 
ing  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before,  I  press 
toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus."  And  again ;  "  So  fight  I,  not 
as  one  that  beateth  the  air ;  but  I  keep  my  body 
under,  (literally,  I  strike  my  body  under  the  eye,  allud 
ing  to  the  blows  of  the  pugilist,)  and  bring  it  into 
subjection :  lest  that  by  any  means,  when  I  have 
preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  castaway." 

So  also  of  men  of  modern  times.  "Whitefield 
attained  the  measure  of  sanctification  which  so  en 
hanced  his  usefulness,  by  a  painful  process.  "  He 
fasted  himself  sick ;  and  denied  himself  in  dress  to 
such  a  degree,  that  the  young  nobleman  who  gave 
him  a  certain  amount  at  the  University,  dismissed 
him  for  shame  of  so  shabby  a  groom."  That  there 
may  have  been  somewhat  of  the  legal  spirit  in  this, 
is  very  probable ;  and  yet  it  shows  how  earnestly  he 
sought  after  that  communion  with  God  which  gave 
him  such  power  among  men. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  89 

Payson,  who  moved  about  on  the  earth  while  he 
lived,  "  like  a  flame  of  fire,"  affords  a  striking  exam 
ple  in  proof  of  this  position.  He  prayed  without  ceas 
ing  ;  studying  his  theology  on  his  knees,  with  an  open 
Bible,  and  a  pleading  of  the  promises ;  and  was  so 
rigid  in  watchings  and  fastings  as  to  cause  his  friends 
to  be  justly  alarmed  for  his  safety.  Turn  to  his 
diary,  and  mark  the  following  as  specimens  of  many 
entrances :  — 

"  March  26.  —  Spent  the  day  in  fasting  and 
prayer,"  etc. 

"  March  31.  —  Spent  this  day  in  fasting,  but  not 
in  prayer ;  for  I  could  not  put  up  a  single  petition. 
Was  entirely  deserted  and  ready  to  say,  Surely  it  is 
in  vain  to  seek  after  God,"  etc. 

"  April  7.  —  In  fasting  and  prayer  was  favored 
with  much  of  a  spirit  of  supplication,"  etc. 

"  April  22.  —  Spent  this  day  in  fasting  and  prayer. 
At  first  stupid  ;  but  soon  God  was  pleased  to  lift  up 
the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  me,"  etc. 

"  May  1,  1807.  —  Having  set  apart  this  day  for 
fasting  and  prayer,  preparatory  to  the  celebration  of 
the  Lord's  supper,  I  arose  early  and  sought  the 
divine  presence,"  etc. 

"  May  5.  —  Spent  this  day  in  the  woods,  in  fast 
ing  and  prayer,  with  a  view  to  obtain  mortification 
of  my  abominable  pride  and  selfishness,"  etc. 

"  June  26.  —  Much  favored.  Felt  insatiable  de 
sires  after  holiness,  and  that  I  might  spend  every 
moment  of  future  life  to  the  divine  glory,"  etc.* 

We  have  another  example  in  Timothy  W.  Lester, 

*  See  his  Memoir  published  by  Tract  Society. 

8* 


90  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    KEVIVED. 

in  whose  biography  sentences  like  the  following  often 
meet  the  eye  :  — 

"  Spent  yesterday  to  some  extent  as  a  day  of  fast 
ing,  self-examination,  and  prayer.  This  exercise 
seems  always  beneficial  to  both  body  and  soul." 

"  After  breakfast,  I  took  to  my  study  to  spend  the 
day  in  prayer  and  in  searching  the  Scriptures."  "  By 
close  self-examination,  I  discover  that  I  am  becom 
ing  less  spiritual.  The  thought  greatly  distresses 
me.  I  cast  myself  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  my  Saviour, 
and  cried  for  more  grace.  I  went  again  and  again 
to  the  mercy-seat.  The  Spirit  helped  my  infirm 
ity,"  etc.* 

Alas,  that  this  striving  after  holiness  is  so  infre 
quent  among  the  disciples  of    Christ!      Alas,  that 
they  should  allow  themselves  so  little  time  for  retire 
ment  and  reflection. 

"  Wisdom's  self 

Oft  seeks  to  sweet  retired  solitude ; 
Where,  with  her  best  nurse,  Contemplation, 
She  plumes  her  feathers,  and  lets  grow  her  wings." 

It  is  not  possible  to  detect  all  the  causes  that 
operate  to  this  result.  Doubtless,  in  many  instances, 
it  arises  from  losing  sight  of  its  necessity ;  some 
times  from  the  absence  of  any  desire  for  holiness, 
owing  to  a  deadness  of  the  affections,  and  a  wicked 
departure  from  God.  More  frequently  it  is  because 
the  cares  of  the  world  too  exclusively  occupy  the 
mind  and  exhaust  the  energies. 

In  many  instances,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  there  is 

*  Memoir  of  Timothy  W.  Lester,  by  Rev.  Isaac  C.  Beach. 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  91 

little  earnest  effort  for  higher  attainments  in  piety, 
from  being  satisfied  with  a  mere  superficial,  outside 
religion.  Formalism  has  always  been  the  great  foe 
of  a  pure  Christianity.  There  were  those  of  old 
who  had  the  form  of  godliness,  but  not  its  power ; 
and  even  true  Christians,  especially  in  our  day,  are 
in  danger  of  substituting  an  outward  attention  to 
the  claims  of  philanthropy  and  religion,  for  a  deep, 
personal  experience  of  its  life  and  power  within. 
The  number  of  benevolent  enterprises  which  have 
recently  sprung  into  being,  and  which  are  the  glory 
of  the  age,  increase  this  danger  of  neglecting  the 
heart-iuork,  upon  wrhich  these  very  enterprises  are 
dependent  for  success.  There  are  so  many  "  Socie 
ties,"  and  "  Boards,"  and  "  Conventions,"  the  impor 
tance  of  whose  efficient  operations  and  liberal  sup 
port,  must  of  necessity  be  often  urged  upon  the 
churches,  that  we  are  in  danger  of  imbibing  the  sen 
timent  that  these  are  the  only  things  of  importance ; 
and  that,  when  we  have  done  our  proportion  for 
their  adequate  support  and  encouragement,  we  may 
rest  satisfied  as  if  all  were  attained.  Thus  the  inner 
work  of  the  closet,  and  the  individual's  own  bosom, 
is  left  undone. 

This,  as  above  intimated,  is  neglecting  the  very 
basis  on  which  the  whole  superstructure  of  our  sys 
tems  of  benevolence,  if  successful,  must  rest;  for,  as 
some  one  has  observed,  it  is  a  principle  of  divine  ap 
pointment^  that  personal  piety  is  the  only  proper  basis 
of  relative  usefulness. 

Our  Saviour  spent  much  time  in  solitude.  Forty 
days  were  passed  in  fasting  and  prayer  and  personal 
conflict  with  the  adversary,  previous  to  his  entrance 


92  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

upon  the  public  ministry;  and  special  mention  is 
made  of  his  afterward  retiring,  on  at  least  three  dif 
ferent  occasions,  for  solemn  private  and  protracted 
prayer.  "And  in  the  morning,  rising  up  a  great 
while  before  day,  he  went  out  and  departed  into  a 
solitary  place,  and  there  prayed."  Mark  1 :  35.  "  He 
went  out  into  a  mountain  to  pray,  and  continued  all 
night  in  prayer."  Luke  6 :  12.  "  And  when  he  had 
sent  the  multitude  away,  he  went  up  into  a  moun 
tain  to  pray ;  and  when  the  evening  was  come,  he 
was  there  alone."  Matt.  14 :  23. 

"  Cold  mountains  and  the  midnight  air 
Witnessed  the  fervor  of  his  prayer; 
The  desert  his  temptations  knew, 
His  conflict  and  his  victory  too." 

And  in  proof  of  the  necessity  of  frequent  retirement 
for  meditation  and  prayer,  in  order  to  great  attain 
ments  in  grace,  we  have  not  only  our  Lord's  exam 
ple,  but  his  express  precept :  "  Enter  into  thy  closet, 
and  when  thou  hast  shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy  Father 
which  is  in  secret."  Matt.  6 :  6. 

But  how  little  time  is  spent  in  this  manner  by 
Christians  generally!  Perhaps  at  no  previous  period 
so  little  as  at  the  present.  And  this  is  only  indicative 
of  a  general  fact,  —  the  prevalence  of  an  exterior 
rather  than  an  interior  religion.  There  is  foreign 
work,  and  home  work,  —  all  kinds  of  out-door  work, 
—  but  alas  for  the  work  ivithin!  Our  Lord's  admo 
nition  is  here  in  point :  "  These  ought  ye  to  have 
done,  but  not  to  leave  the  other  undone." 

The  piety  of  the  age  needs  to  be  driven  back  again 
to  the  home-altar,  and  the  closet;  not,  indeed,  to 
remain  there  ;  but  to  be  renewed  and  replenished 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  93 

from  on  high,  that  it  may  come  forth  with  more 
purity  and  depth  and  strength.  First  attend  to  the 
heart,  and  then  let  the  hands  be  filled  with  work.  In 
this  case  all  will  be  well.  There  will  be  both  piety 
and  activity.  "  Our  piety  will  give  activity  to  our 
benevolence,  and,  in  return,  our  benevolence  will 
invigorate  our  piety."  But  reversing  this  divine 
order,  disappointment  and  disaster  will  be  the  inevita 
ble  result.  What  is  gained  in  surface  will  be  lost  in 
depth ;  and  the  expenditures  exceeding  the  receipts, 
we  shall  become  morally  bankrupt.  Hence  the  pro 
priety  of  the  admonition  of  another :  "  The  more 
active  the  church  is  in  the  way  of  proselyting,  the 
more  devoted  it  should  be  in  the  way  of  piety. 
Without  this,  even  the  present  missionary  ardor 
instead  of  being  as  the  light-house  of  the  world,  will 
be  but  as  a  bonfire  upon  the  heights  of  Zion,  a  tran 
sient  blaze,  which  will  soon  burn  itself  out,  and  yield 
no  permanent  illumination.  Here,  then,  must  be  our 
starting  point;  to  begin  anywhere  else  is  to  begin  in 
the  middle.  It  is  one  of  Satan's  deep  devices  to  call 
off  the  attention  of  the  church  from  its  own  state,  to 
the  condition  of  the  world  without  and  around  her.  .  .  . 
The  spirit  of  holy  zeal  which  is  so  active,  —  yes, 
even  this,  for  the  want  of  watchfulness,  care,  and 
earnest  prayer,  may  become  a  snare  and  a  mischief 
to  personal  godliness.  We  have  need  to  take  care 
that  the  reproach  be  not  brought  against  us,  that, 
while  we  have  kept  the  vineyards  of  others,  our  own 
we  have  not  kept;  that  our  zeal  has  been  maintained, 
not  by  our  religion,  but  at  the  expense  of  it;  that  our 
ardor  is  not  the  natural  putting  forth  of  the  vital 
energies  of  the  tree,  in  branches,  leaves,  and  fruit,  but 


94  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

an  excrescence  upon  it,  which  draws  to  itself  the 
sap  and  impoverishes  the  genuine  produce." 

Our  conclusion,  then,  is,  that  in  point  of  consecra 
tion  to  the  Lord,  there  should  be  an  immediate  and 
general  return  to  the  piety  of  primitive  times.  Let 
Christians  place  before  them  an  elevated  standard 
of  holiness.  Let  them  not  wickedly  abuse  the  doc 
trine  that  sin,  to  some  extent,  will  cleave  to  us  while 
we  abide  in  the  flesh,  by  making  it  an  excuse  for  re 
maining  contented  without  that  perfect  holiness  to 
which  we  should  constantly  aim.  Though  they  may 
never  here  attain  to  it,  yet  let  them  strive  after  a 
complete  conformity  to  Christ. 

It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  there  is  a  correct 
sentiment  in  the  churches  as  to  the  needful  consecra 
tion  of  heart  and  life  in  ministers  and  missionaries, 
who  are  expected  to  be  men  of  eminent  piety.  And 
such  they  most  certainly  ought  to  be.  As  pressing 
as  is  the  demand  for  more  ministers,  there  is  a  call, 
louder  than  all  others,  demanding  more  piety  in  the 
ministry.  But  is  it  less  imperative  as  regards  private 
Christians  ?  Is  it  not  equally  true  of  them,  that  they 
are  bought  with  a  price,  and  being  not  their  own,  are 
bound  to  glorify  God  in  their  bodies  and  spirits  which 
are  his?  Let  all  the  members  of  our  churches,  then, 
both  ministers  and  laymen,  arise  and  with  one  heart 
return  unto  God,  and  seek  a  fresh  anointing  from  on 
high. 

As  aids  in  the  blessed  undertaking,  let  every  means 
of  grace  be  faithfully  employed.  Let  there  be  more 
study  of  the  sacred  truths  of  the  Bible.  For  the 
doctrines  of  revelation  are  the  life  of  the  soul,  the 
foundation  of  all  experimental  and  practical  religion. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  95 

A  man's  creed  influences  his  conduct.  Opinions  are 
the  seeds  of  actions.  The  better  exemplification  of 
the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  in  the  Christian's  life, 
must  be  the  result  of  a  clearer  view,  and  a  consequent 
more  realizing  persuasion  of  those  doctrines.  It  has 
been  well  and  truly  said,  that  "the  basis  of  a  vigor 
ous  and  intelligent  piety  can  be  laid  only  in  correct 
Christian  doctrine.  Those  great  truths  which  the 
gospel  requires  us  to  believe  contain  the  reasons  and 
the  source  of  all  the  peculiar  traits  of  character  which 
it  requires  to  possess.  Displace  one  of  them  from 
the  system,  or  misstate  and  pervert  it,  and  you  give  a 
new  turn  to  the  entire  Christian  life.  Neglect  them 
wholly,  and  your  piety  withers  like  a  tree  severed 
from  its  root,  or  is  driven  by  the  gusts  of  enthusiasm 
like  a  paper  kite  cut  loose  from  its  string." 

There  can  be  no  true  religion  without  some  knowl 
edge  of  God's  law,  and  man's  guilt,  and  Christ's  sac 
rifice.  As  well  might  we  conceive  of  a  building 
without  a  foundation,  as  of  religion  without  doc 
trinal  knowledge ;  for  the  duties  of  religion  are  all 
founded  upon  its  doctrines,  and  from  them  all  the 
motives  to  a  godly  life  are  derived.  And  beside,  it 
is  divine  truth  that  the  Spirit  employs  in  the  work  of 
sanctification.  " "Sanctify  them  through  thy  truth; 
thy  word  is  truth." 

It  does  not  admit  of  a  doubt  that  the  very  general 
lack  of  a  full  and  distinct  apprehension  of  the  great 
and  glorious  doctrines  of  the  Bible  is  one  main  cause 
of  the  existing  defects  in  Christian  character.  The 
Bible  in  our  day  is  too  much  a  neglected  book.  The 
knowledge  that  is  possessed  of  it,  even  among  intelli 
gent  Christians,  is  exceedingly  superficial.  This  holy 


96  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   EEVIVED. 

volume  has  been  crowded  out  by  the  pressure  of  pub 
lications  of  a  light  and  ephemeral  character.  These 
latter  books  must  be  read,  —  the  daily  and  weekly 
papers  must  be  read,  —  but  the  Bible,  and  those  solid 
books  defining  and  illustrating  its  precious  doctrines, 
are  by  many  ignored  and  slighted  and  forgotten.  Is 
it  strange  that  their  piety  is  of  a  negative  and  un 
fruitful  character  ? 

And  it  is  worthy  of  serious  inquiry  here,  Whether 
the  exclusion  from  many  pulpits  of  thorough  doc 
trinal  preaching  has  not  contributed  greatly  to  a 
superficial  religion  ?  Is  it  not  seldom  that  we  now 
have  presented  from  the  pulpit  a  clear  statement  and 
a  forcible  elucidation  of  the  fundamental  truths  of 
the  gospel?  When  preached  at  all,  is  it  not  inciden 
tally  and  feebly,  rather  than  in  that  clear  and  forcible 
manner  which  awakens  the  feelings  of  the  human 
heart  in  view  of  the  objects  they  present,  and  which 
tends  to  humble  the  pride  of  man  and  exalt  God 
upon  the  throne  as  the  rightful  and  sovereign  Dis 
poser  of  all  ? 

Is  there  not,  then,  an  imperious  necessity  for  a 
more  general  and  distinct  apprehension  of  the  truths 
of  revelation,  in  order  to  a  revival  of  primitive  piety  ? 
Those  great  fundamental  doctrines,  —  the  divine 
Trinity,  —  the  fall  and  depravity  of  man,  —  his  just 
condemnation  by  the  divine  law,  —  the  atonement 
of  Christ,  —  regeneration  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  justifi 
cation  by  faith  in  Christ,  —  God's  sovereignty  in 
man's  salvation,  and  eternal  rewards  and  punish 
ments,  —  the  thorough  exposition  and  inculcation  of 
which  have  secured  for  Scotland  the.  title  of  "  the 
vanguard  of  Christ's  army,"  and  for  New  England 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  97 

an  equally  desirable  elevation  in  this  land,  need  to 
be  more  frequently  and  thoroughly  discussed  and 
better  understood. 

How  else  shall  the  churches  ward  off  the  insidious 
and  open  assaults  of  rationalism  and  traditionalism 
and  superstition  and  fanaticism  ?  A  clear  and  scrip 
tural  presentation  of  the  doctrines  is  "  the  true  break 
water  which  alone  can  resist  the  billows  of  prevailing 
errors."  And  how  shall  the  needful  vigor  and  matu 
rity  of  the  churches  be  restored  and  maintained, 
except  in  connection  with  the  more  uninterrupted 
circulation  through  all  the  members  of  their  life's 
blood  which  is  composed  of  these  doctrines  received 
into  the  heart  as  actual  living  principles  ?  * 

Let  there  be,  therefore,  more  of  the  daily  searching 
of  the  Scriptures,  —  more  of  that  meditation  on  God's 
law  and  truth,  which  causes  the  Christian  to  be  like 
a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth 
forth  his  fruit  in  his  season,  and  whose  leaf  shall  not 
wither.  And  with  this  study  of  the  word  of  the  liv 
ing  God,  let  there  be  a  return  to  those  old  devotional 
and  doctrinal  works  on  which  was  fed  the  piety  of 
our  fathers,  productions  which,  though  not  excelled 
in  intrinsic  merit  by  those  of  modern  date,  have, 
nevertheless,  fallen  into  comparative  disuse;  works 
such  as  Taylor's  Holy  Living  and  Dying,  —  Bun- 
yan's  Pilgrim's  Progress, —  Baxter's  Saint's  Rest, — 
the  works  of  President  Edwards,  Bellamy,  Hopkins, 
Andrew  Fuller,  D wight,  and  others  of  like  instruc 
tive  character. 


*  See  an  able  discussion  of  this  subject  in  Tract  No.  1  of  the 
series  by  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publication. 

9 


98  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

Let  the  sanctuary  be  frequented  with  more  regu 
larity  and  purity  of  motive,  and,  above  all,  let  there 
be  more  of  deep  humiliation  and  prayer,  —  prayer  in 
the  social  circle,  at  the  family  altar,  and  particularly 
in  the  closet,  where  the  exercise  should  always  be 
accompanied  \vith  devout  meditation  and  deep  self- 
abasement.  So  let  there  be  a  rekindling  of  the  "first 
love;"  a  closer  walk  with  God;  a  consecration  such 
as  the  necessities  of  the  age,  and  the  word  of  God, 
imperatively  enjoin.  Thus  shall  be  experienced  the 
blessings  of  the  day  foretold  of  the  prophet,  when 
"  there  shall  be  upon  the  bells  of  the  horses  HOLINESS 
UNTO  THE  LORD  ; "  and  Zion,  clothed  in  garments  of 
salvation,  and  robes  of  righteousness,  shall  reflect 
abroad  the  light  of  heaven,  and  become  the  admira 
tion  of  the  whole  earth. 

And,  finally,  dear  reader,  what  is  the  measure  of 
your  consecration  to  God  ?  Are  you  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  ?  Then  your  piety  determines,  in  no 
small  degree,  the  piety  of  the  flock  over  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  has  made  you  overseer,  and  of  the 
whole  community  where  your  influence  is  exerted. 
If  a  particular  church  is  to  attain  a  high  degree  of 
spirituality,  its  pastor  must  first  become  spiritually 
minded ;  for  how  can  one  inspire  in  others  the  desire 
of  an  object  concerning  which  he  is  himself  indiffer 
ent  ?  "  It  is  the  scintillation  of  his  own  zeal,  flying 
off  from  his  own  glowing  heart,  and  falling  upon 
their  souls,  which  kindles  in  them  the  fire  which 
burns  in  himself."  How  responsible,  then,  is  your 
position !  Luther,  it  is  said,  trembled  every  time  he 
entered  the  pulpit.  And  well  he  might.  Well 
might  one  tremble  from  the  single  consideration 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  99 

that  a  whole  congregation  of  immortal  souls  were 
moulding  and  forming  the  type  of  their  piety  from 
that  of  his  own  !  Such  is  your  position ;  and  hence 
the  vast  importance  of  watching  over  your  own 
soul,  as  well  as  the  souls  of  others,  and  so  habitually 
dwelling  upon  the  mount  of  communion  that  your 
face  shall  shine  with  the  reflected  light  of  God's 
countenance,  as  did  that  of  Moses. 

Are  you  a  private  member  of  the  church,  and  en 
gaged  in  the  secular  pursuits  of  life  ?  It  is  well  that 
you  often  and  solemnly  propose  to  yourself  ques 
tions  like  these  :  "  Am  I  toiling  for  myself,  or  for  my 
Maker  ?  "  "  This  active  mind,  and  this  body,  with 
its  feet  and  hands  and  mouth,  its  bones  and  sinews, 
have  I  devoted  them  wholly  to  God  ? "  "I  have 
this  day  been  before  God,"  says  President  Edwards, 
"  and  have  given  myself —  all  that  I  am  and  have  — 
to  God ;  so  that  I  am  in  no  respect  my  own.  I  can 
challenge  no  right  in  myself;  in  this  understanding, 
this  will,  these  affections.  Neither  have  a  right  to 
this  body,  or  any  of  its  members  ;  no  right  to  this 
tongue,  these  hands,  these  feet,  these  eyes,  these 
ears ;  I  have  given  myself  clean  away."  Is  this  the 
measure  of  your  personal  consecration  ?  If  you 
have  children,  have  you  truly  devoted  them  to  the 
Lord  and  his  service  ?  And  is  this  true  of  the 
property  which  you  have  been  enabled  to  acquire, 
whether  it  be  less  or  more  ? 

When  the  Karen  convert,  Ko-chet-thing,  was  in 
America,  a  few  friends  of  missions  gave  him  small 
sums  of  money,  amounting  in  all  to  some  forty  or 
fifty  dollars.  After  it  had  been  exchanged  for  Span 
ish  dollars,  on  the  eve  of  his  return  to  his  own  coun- 


100  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

try,  he  one  day  held  up  the  bag  containing  the 
amount,  apparently  exulting  in  his  treasure.  A 
friend  asked  him  what  use  he  intended  to  make  of 
the  money,  supposing  that  he  would  probably  pur 
chase  various  articles  as  keepsakes  to  carry  home  to 
his  kindred.  He  had,  however,  set  it  apart  for  build 
ing  a  school-house  among  the  Karens ;  and  to  the 
innocent  inquiry,  looking  up  with  tears  of  gratitude 
in  his  eyes,  he  replied,  in  his  broken  English, "  This 
no  me  money,  this  Jesus  Christ's  money,"  —  «  this 
no  me  money,  this  Jesus  Christ's  money." 

Christian  reader,  —  you  who  have  sat  under  the 
sound  of  the  gospel  from  your  youth  up,  —  have  you 
as  thoroughly  and  as  practically  learned  the  great 
doctrine  of  stewardship  as  this  convert  from  heathen 
ism  ?  No  matter  what  your  standing  in  the  church, 
you  are  entreated  to  look  well  to  this  matter.  Your 
outward  profession  may  be  very  fair,  while  there  is  a 
covetous  disposition  within.  Apply  the  proper  tests. 
They  are  such  as  these.  Does  your  love  of  money 
terminate  upon  yourself?  Do  you  desire  riches  that 
you  may  gratify  your  pride,  or  your  inclinations 
toward  accumulating  a  fortune  for  yourself  or  your 
heirs,  or  procuring  worldly  ease  and  preferment  among 
men  ?  Then  the  desire  for  gain  is  unholy.  Are  you 
a  reluctant  giver  ?  Do  you  grudge  what  you  give, 
and  wish  that  you  were  not  compelled  to  give  it  ? 
Are  you  inclined  to  shun  the  duty  of  liberality  if 
possible?  and  if  not  possible,  are  you  impelled  to 
withhold  from  charity  all  that  you  can  withhold,  and 
yet  not  be  suspected  of  meanness,  and  a  narrow, 
illiberal  spirit  ?  If  this  be  so,  you  are  guilty  of  cov- 
etousness.  And  so,  also,  if  this  passion  for  property 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  101 

reigns  with  so  much  power  as  to  displace  the  su 
premacy  of  God  from  the  mind.  Nor  let  your  self- 
examination  terminate  with  the  points  already  men 
tioned,  but  carry  it  forward  with  special  reference  to 
the  degree  of  your  love  of  Christ,  and  hatred  of  sin 
in  every  form.  Are  you  able  to  adopt  the  language 
of  the  Psalmist  as  applied  to  the  Redeemer? 
"  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is 
none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  beside  thee."  And 
with  regard  to  any  act  that  might  displease  the  Lord, 
can  you  enter  into  the  feeling  of  Count  Godomar, 
who  was  accustomed  to  say,  "  that  he  feared  noth 
ing  in  the  world  more  than  sin ;  and  that  whatever 
liberties  he  had  formerly  taken,  he  would  rather  now 
submit  to  be  torn  to  pieces  by  wild  beasts,  than  know 
ingly  or  willingly  commit  any  sin  against  God?" 


CHAPTER    IV. 


A    WANT    OF    SELF-DENIAL    FOR   CHRIST  —  A   FOURTH    GRAND 
DEFECT    IN    THE    PIETY   WHICH   NOW   PREVAILS. 

What  is  Self-denial?— Why  required.  — How  exercised.  — Practised  by 
God's  People  in  all  Ages.  —  Still  demanded.  —  Unless  suffered  with 
Him,  not  reign  with  Him. —  The  Duty  explicitly  enjoined.  —  A  great 
Law  of  the  Christian  Keligion.  — Just  as  much  Religion  as  Self- 
denial.  —  Not  practised  to  requisite  extent  at  the  present  Time.  —  Re 
luctance  of  Parents  to  give  Children  to  Mission  Service.  —  Limited 
benevolent  Contributions.  —  General  Style  of  Living.  —  Conformity 
to  the  World.  —  Ungodly  Men  give  Laws  to  the  Church.  —  The  Usurp 
ation  indorsed.  —  The  Evil  on  the  increase.  —  Calamitous  Results.  — 
A  Return  to  the  Simplicity  of  former  Days  a  pressing  Necessity.  — 
Not  safe  for  God's  Children  to  follow  after  the  World.— The  Self- 
sacrificing  Spirit  waits  a  Resurrection.  —  Incentives  to  Self-denial. — 
The  constraining  Power  of  Love.  —  Individual  Application  of  the 
Subject. 

IN  the  preceding  chapter  we  were  led  to  consider 
the  subject  of  an  adequate  consecration  to  God. 
Now  it  will  be  obvious  upon  the  least  reflection,  that 
the  entire  surrender  which  it  involves,  is  directly  at 
variance  with  the  natural  inclinations  of  the  human 
heart ;  and  can,  therefore,  be  effected  only  in  connec 
tion  with  a  disregard  of  self,  and  a  supreme  regard 
for  the  Divine  will.  Hence  the  necessity  of  self- 
denial,  a  feature  of  Christian  character  which  is 
worthy  of  the  most  careful  consideration. 

But  what  is  self-denial?  Simply  the  denial  of 
one's  self;  the  forbearing  to  gratify  one's  own  appe- 

(102) 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  103 

tites  or  desires.  The  self-denial  which  the  gospel 
enjoins,  may  be  more  fully  defined  as  "  the  subjec 
tion  of  our  personal  ease  and  tastes  and  conven 
iences,  our  comforts  and  time  and  possessions,  to 
the  will  of  Christ,  for  his  glory  and  human  good." 
And  why  is  it  requisite  ?  That  true  Christians  may 
be  distinguished  from  those  that  are  false ;  that  the 
unbelieving  world  may  be  convinced  of  our  sincerity, 
and  of  the  reality  of  our  blessed  religion ;  that,  by 
resisting  and  overcoming  that  which  is  evil,  we  may 
be  elevated  in  the  scale  of  being;  as  well  as  that 
heaven's  joys  may  be  sweetened,  on  account  of 
earth's  trials. 

Let  us  further  inquire,  How  is  it  to  be  exercised  ? 
Not  in  rejecting  the  lawful  use  of  God's  creatures, — 
not  in  reducing  one's  self  to  voluntary  and  comfort 
less  poverty,  —  not  in  burying  one's  self  in  retire 
ment,  and  macerating  the  body,  and  wasting  the 
energies  "in  idle  contemplations  and  dreamy  rap 
tures,"  —  not  in  being  careless  of  life  and  health 
and  property,  —  but  in  renouncing  such  pleasures, 
profits,  comforts,  connections,  or  practices  as  God 
commands  us  to  renounce,  and  to  the  extent  to  which 
he  commands  it.  The  understanding  must  be  so  far 
denied  as  that  we  shall  not  lean  upon  it,  independent 
of  divine  instruction.  The  will  must  be  denied  so 
far  as  it  opposes  the  will  of  God,  —  the  affections, 
when  they  become  inordinate,— the  gratification  of 
the  members  of  the  body,  when  out  of  their  due 
course,  —  the  honors  of  the  world  and  praise  of  men, 
when  they  become  a  snare,  —  worldly  emoluments, 
when  to  be  obtained  in  an  unlawful  way,  or  when 
standing  in  opposition  to  religion  and  usefulness,  — 


104  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

friends  and  relatives,  so  far  as  they  oppose  the  truth, 
and  would  influence  us  to  oppose  it,  —  our  property 
and  our  temporal  comforts,  yea,  life  itself,  if  called 
for  in  the  service  of  Christ,* 

And,  once  more,  let  us  observe  the  spirit  in  which 
we  are  to  exercise  self-denial:  which  is  not  one  of 
strife  or  vainglory,  or  out  of  a  desire  to  seek  the 
praise  of  men,  or  secure  to  ourselves  the  favor  of 
God ;  but  in  the  spirit  of  faith,  and  of  love,  and  of 
a  sound  mind. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  remark,  that  the  people 
of  God  in  all  ages  have  been  called  to  the  exercise 
of  this  self-sacrificing  spirit,  —  Abel,  in  rendering 
himself  liable  to  his  brother's  wrath,  and  finally  in 
the  loss  of  his  life,  —  Abraham,  in  leaving  his  coun 
try  and  his  father's  house,  and  in  the  sacrifice  of  his 
son  Isaac,  —  Joseph,  in  bringing  upon  himself  the 
displeasure  of  his  master,  and  in  being  cast  into  the 
king's  prison,  —  Moses,  in  forsaking  the  pleasures  of 
sin,  and  the  riches  of  Egypt,  to  suffer  affliction  and 
reproach  with  God's  people,  —  Daniel,  in  being 
thrust  into  the  den  of  lions,  and  the  three  worthies 
into  the  fiery  furnace,  for  their  adherence  to  the 
Divine  commands,  —  and  others  of  their  times,  in 
being  put  to  death,  or  afflicted  and  tormented  for  the 
truth's  sake. 

And  so  of  the  early  disciples  of  Christ.  They 
were  left  to  no  conjecture  as  to  the  results  of  espous 
ing  the  cause  of  the  Nazarene.  At  the  dawn  of  his 
ministry,  those  who  would  follow  him  were  admon 
ished  that  it  would  involve  sacrifices  of  the  most  try- 

*  See  Buck's  Theological  Dictionary. 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  105 

ing  nature.  "  The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of 
the  air  have  nests;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not 
where  to  lay  his  head."  "  Follow  me ;  and  let  the 
dead  bury  their  dead."  They  must  leave  all,  and 
expect  nothing  but  revilings  and  persecutions,  per 
haps  death.  But  the  greatness  of  their  sacrifices  did 
not  excel  the  readiness  with  which  they  were  made. 
Their  hearts  overflowing  with  "  the  first  love,"  they 
lost  sight  of  themselves,  and  thought  only  of  Christ. 
Witness  the  case  of  the  four  fishermen  —  the  first 
chosen  of  his  disciples.  Called  by  their  Lord,  they 
immediately  forsook  all  that  they  had  hitherto  valued 
and  loved,  and  followed  him.  It  was  more  than 
abandoning  their  property,  which  might  have  been 
considerable.  As  Kitto  remarks,  it  was  a  forsaking 
of  the  place,  the  homes  around  which,  for  them,  all 
the  charities  of  life  were  gathered,  —  of  the  friends 
and  neighbors  with  whom  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  associate,  and  of  the  relations  in  whom  their  hearts 
were  delighted.  It  was  an  abandonment  of  the  habits 
of  life  to  which  they  had  been  used,  and  of  the  occu 
pation  in  which  alone  they  were  skilled,  and  which 
furnished  their  subsistence.  And  this,  not  to  attach 
themselves  to  one  who  was  rich  or  great,  or  who 
could  or  did  hold  out  to  them  any  worldly  advan 
tages,  —  but  to  one  who  was  as  poor  as  themselves, 
and  one  with  whom  they  were  often  to  suffer  peril, 
hunger,  and  thirst,  and  who  could  not  assure  them 
of  a  place  where  to  lay  their  heads.* 

And  this  incident  is  but  illustrative  of  a  general 
fact  in  regard  to  the  primitive  disciples  ;  they  made 


*  Life  of  our  Lord,  p.  244. 


106  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

but  little  account  of  the  treasures  of  this  life.  The 
love  of  money  they  knew  nothing  of.  If  the  poor 
brethren  required  aid,  what  was  possessed  by  others, 
was  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  apostles  for  distribution  ; 
and  if,  through  violence,  their  property  was  wrested 
from  them,  they  "  took  joyfully  the  spoiling  of  their 
goods."  In  charity,  "their  deep  poverty  abounded  to 
the  riches  of  their  liberality,"  and  their  gifts  extended 
even  "  beyond  their  power."  With  them  the  ques 
tion  was  not,  as  in  our  day,  "  How  much  shall  I 
give  ?  "  but  rather,  "  How  much  may  I  withhold  ?  " 
Indeed,  they  gave  the  whole  of  what  they  gained. 
All  of  it  was  honestly  dedicated  to  God,  —  they  did 
not  esteem  it  theirs;  and  were  only  anxious  lest  they 
should  err  in  appropriating  too  much  to  their  own 
use.  Nor  did  their  self-denial  extend  to  property 
alone,  but  to  their  lives  even.  The  teachings  of  their 
Master  had  animated  them  with  a  spirit  of  entire 
self-devotement ;  and  they  literally  feared  not  "them 
that  kill  the  body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul," 
but  rather  "  Him  which  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul 
and  body  in  hell."  When  brought  before  councils, 
they  took  no  thought  of  what  they  should  say  ;  and, 
instead  of  recoiling  from  scourgings  and  imprison 
ments  for  Christ's  sake,  they  absolutely  rejoiced 
"  that  they  were  counted  worthy  to  suffer  shame  for 
his  name." 

Witness  the  heroic  Paul,  as  his  friends,  in  tears, 
stood  about  him  and  entreated  him  not  to  go  up 
to  Jerusalem,  on  an  occasion  when  it  was  known 
that  he  would  suffer,  harm :  "What  mean  ye?"  he 
exclaims,  "  to  weep  and  to  break  mine  heart  ?  for  I 
am  ready,  not  to  be  bound  only,  but  also  to  die  at 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  107 

Jerusalem  for  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus."  On 
another  occasion,  he  declares  that  it  is  his  earnest 
hope  "  that  Christ  shall  be  magnified  in  "  his  "  body, 
whether  it  be  by  life  or  by  death ; "  adding,  "  for  me 
to  live  is  Christ;  and  to  die  is  gain."  And  again,  says 
he,  "  If  I  be  offered  upon  the  sacrifice  and  service  of 
your  faith,  I  joy  and  rejoice  with  you  all."  And,  at 
last,  in  sight  of  the  instruments  of  his  death,  with 
holy  boldness  he  exclaims,  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be 
offered."  The  time  of  his  departure  had  come ;  and 
God  permitted  him  to  seal  his  testimony  with  his 
blood,  —  a  privilege  vouchsafed  not  to  him  alone,  for, 
according  to  the  general  belief,  all  the  apostles  save 
one,  died  by  the  bloody  hand  of  fierce  persecution. 

It  is,  moreover,  interesting  to  observe  how  exten 
sively  this  spirit  of  self-sacrificing  devotion  prevailed 
among  the  Christians  of  the  first  few  centuries  suc 
ceeding  the  apostolic  age.  Some  perilled  their  lives 
in  going  forth  to  all  places  with  the  message  of  sal 
vation  ;  while  others  sacrificed  nearly  the  whole  of 
their  property  to  furnish  means  for  evangelizing  the 
heathen  around  them;  and  others  still,  contributed 
to  this  purpose  the  entire  avails  of  their  labor.  Of 
one  man  it  is  recorded,  that  "  he  sold  himself  as  a 
slave  to  a  heathen  family,  to  get  access  to  them  for 
their  conversion;  and  for  years  cheerfully  endured 
the  labor  and  condition  of  a  slave,  till  he  succeeded 
with  the  whole  family,  and  took  his  liberty  from  the 
gratitude  of  the  converts."  The  same,  it  is  said,  "  on 
a  visit  to  Sparta,  again  entered  himself  as  a  slave, 
in  the  family  of  the  governor  of  Sparta,  and  served 
two  years,  and  again  succeeded  in  his  design." 
What  thought  such  men  of  self-indulgence  ?  What 


108  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

cared  they  for  life,  if  called  to  surrender  it  in  the 
Master's  service  ? 

Hear  their  language :  "  We  say  we  are  Christians, 
and  we  say  it  to  the  whole  world,  under  the  hand  of 
the  executioner.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  tortures  you 
can  heap  upon  us  to  make  us  recant ;  torn  and 
mangled,  and  covered  with  our  own  blood,  we  still 
cry  out  as  loud  as  we  are  able,  We  are  Christians. 
Call  us  by  what  names  you  please  ;  fill  our  flesh 
with  fagots  to  set  us  on  fire,  yet  let  me  tell  you,  that 
when  we  are  thus  begirt  and  dressed  about  with  fire, 
we  are  in  our  most  illustrious  apparel.  These  are  our 
victorious  palms  and  robes  of  glory ;  and,  mounted  on 
our  funeral  pile,  we  feel  ourselves  as  in  a  triumphant 
chariot.  We  conquer  when  we  die,  and  the  spoils 
of  that  victory  is  eternal  life."  "  What  you  reproach 
us  with  as  stubbornness,  is  the  best  means  of  prose 
lyting  the  world.  For  who  has  not  been  struck  with 
the  sight  of  such  fortitude,  and  from  thence  pushed 
on  to  look  into  the  reason  of  it?  And  who  ever 
looked  well  into  our  religion,  but  embraced  it  ?  And 
who  ever  embraced  it,  but  was  willing  to  die  for  it  ?  " 
"  The  more  you  mow  us  down,  the  thicker  we  rise ; 
the  Christian  blood  you  spill  is  like  the  seed  you 
sow;  it  springs  from  the  earth  and  fructifies  the 
more."  "  Therefore,  all  the  refinements  of  your  cru 
elty  can  effect  nothing,  or  rather  they  have  brought 
over  persons  to  this  sect :  our  number  augments  the 
more  you  persecute  us.  The  blood  of  Christians  is 
the  seed  they  sow.  Your  philosophers,  who  exhort 
to  the  endurance  of  pain  and  death,  make  not  so 
many  disciples  as  the  Christians  through  their  deeds." 

In  language  like  this  did  they  protest  their  readi- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  109 

ness  to  suffer  and  die  for  the  truth  which  they  had 
embraced.  And  for  it  did  they  die,  by  hecatombs, 
while,  in  the  very  deed,  their  blood  became  the  seed 
of  the  church. 

But  the  question  may  arise,  Are  the  disciples  of 
Christ  in  our  day  and  in  Christian  lands,  called 
upon  to  exercise  any  considerable  degree  of  self- 
denial  ?  Was  it  not  a  necessity  peculiar  to  primitive 
times  ?  We  fear  it  is  often  so  considered.  Doubt 
less,  the  same  form  of  self-denial  is  not  in  all  times 
and  places  required;  but  it  is  highly  erroneous  to 
suppose  that  because  the  bloody  persecutions  for 
righteousness'  sake,  which  the  early  Christians  suf 
fered,  have  now,  to  a  great  extent,  abated,  therefore 
the  necessity  for  the  exercise  of  this  virtue  no  longer 
exists. 

The  true  people  of  God,  if  in  character  and  life 
they  meet  the  divine  requirement,  will  always  be,  as 
they  have  always  been,  a  suffering  people.  Christ  is 
their  great  example  in  suffering,  as  well  as  in  other 
things.  He  himself  suffered.  He  himself  has  fur 
nished  us  with  the  highest  illustrations  of  a  heroic 
denial  of  self  for  the  good  of  others.  He  saw  our 
moral  pollution,  but  turned  not  away  from  us  in  dis 
gust.  "  There  is  not  a  wretch  now  wallowing  in  the 
deepest  mire  of  sin,  who  is  so  vile  and  low  in  our 
eyes,  as  we  all  were  in  the  eyes  of  infinite  purity. 
Yet  the  more  wretched  we  were,  the  more  did  he 
feel  for  us."  He  saw  the  full  measure  of  duty  and 
of  trial  that  awaited  him,  but  recoiled  not  at  the 
sight.  He  listened  not  to  the  voices  of  ten  thousand 
times  ten  thousands  of  bright  angels  that  stood 
about  him,  but  only  to  the  sad  moan  that  ascended 
10 


110  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

up  from  the  abode  of  the  guilty  sons  of  men.  He 
divested  himself  of  his  glory,  and  hastened  to  the 
rescue.  He  is  born  of  woman,  made  under  the  law, 
that  he  might  redeem  us  who  were  under  the  law. 
He  chooses  poverty ;  is  dependent  upon  the  charity 
of  his  friends  for  the  sandals  on  his  feet,  the  gar 
ments  which  he  wears,  the  food  which  he  eats,  and 
the  place  where  he  may  repose  his  weary  head.  He 
is  "  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief." 
"He  is  despised  and  rejected  of  men;"  and  at 
length  "  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and 
as  a  sheep  before  the  shearers  is  dumb,  so  openeth  he 
not  his  mouth."  "  He  is  wounded  for  our  transgres 
sions,"  "  bruised  for  our  iniquities,"  and  "  cut  off  out 
of  the  land  of  the  living."  And  all  this  for  us,  —  all 
this  for  his  enemies,  —  "the  just  for  the  unjust." 

O  this  is  self-denial !  This  is  suffering,  —  suffer 
ing  that  others  need  not  suffer.  And  in  this  suffering 
he  has  left  an  example  for  his  followers  in  all  time. 
Says  the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  in  his  letter  to  the 
Philippians,  "  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also 
in  Christ  Jesus ;  who  being  in  the  form  of  God, 
thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God;  but 
made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon  him 
the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness 
of  men ;  and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he 
humbled  himself,  and  became  obedient  unto  death, 
even  the  death  of  the  cross."  And  says  Peter,  "  For 
even  hereunto  were  ye  called;  because  Christ  also 
suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example,  that  ye  should 
follow  his  steps"  Observe :  "  He  also  suffered,  LEAV 
ING  us  AN  EXAMPLE,  that  ye  should  FOLLOW  HIS  STEPS." 
Christ  is  therefore  to  be  followed  in  sufferings. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  Ill 

"  The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war, 

A  kingly  crown  to  gain. 
His  blood-red  banner  streams  afar; 

Who  follows  in  his  train  ? 
Who  best  can  drink  his  cup  of  woe, 

Triumphant  over  pain ; 
Who  patient  bears  his  cross  below, 

He  follows  in  his  train." 

Paul  declares  concerning  his  brethren,  that  unto 
them  "  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to 
believe  on  him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his  sake ; "  and 
to  his  son  Timothy  he  writes,  "  be  thou  partaker  of 
the  afflictions  of  the  gospel."  Indeed,  suffering  with 
Christ  is  made  a  condition  of  reigning  with  him.  "  If 
children,  then  heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs 
with  Christ ;  IF  so  BE  that  we  suffer  with  him,  that  we 
may  be  also  glorified  together"  And  let  the  language 
of  our  Lord  upon  this  subject,  contained  in  Matt. 
10:  37, 38,  and  Luke  9:  23-25. 14:  25-35,  be  specially 
observed. 

In  the  last-mentioned  passage  it  is  written  that 
"there  went  great  multitudes  with  him;  and  he 
turned  arid  said  unto  them,  If  any  man  come  to  me, 
and  hate  not  his  father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and 
children,  and  brethren,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own 
life  also,  he  CAXNOT  BE  MY  DISCIPLE.  And  whosoever 
doth  not  bear  his  cross,  and  come  after  me,  cannot 
be  my  disciple."  And  after  enforcing  the  importance 
of  counting  the  cost  before  determining  to  follow 
Christ,  by  allusion  to  a  man  who  is  about  to  build  a 
tower,  or  a  king  to  make  war  with  a  powerful  rival, 
it  is  added,  "  So  likewise,  whosoever  he  be  of  you 
that  forsaketh  not  all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my 
disciple." 


112  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

The  occasion  upon  which  the  language  in  Luke 
9  :  23-25  was  spoken,  was  the  open  avowal  by  Christ 
of  his  approaching  sufferings  and  death;  and  the 
consequent  trials  to  which  his  followers  would  be 
subjected.  On  this  occasion  it  is  written  that  "  he 
said  unto  them  all,  If  any  man  will  come  after  me, 
let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and 
follow  me.  For  whosoever  will  save  his  life  shall 
lose  it ;  but  whosoever  will  lose  his  life  for  my  sake, 
the  same  shall  save  it.  For  what  is  a  man  advan 
taged,  if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  himself, 
or  be  a  castaway  ?  "  The  record  in  Matt.  10 :  37, 
etc.,  runs  thus :  "  He  that  Ipveth  father  or  mother 
more  than  me ;  and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter 
more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me.  And  he  that 
taketh  not  his  cross,  and  followeth  after  me,  is  not 
worthy  of  me." 

Consider  well  the  import  of  these  remarkable  pas 
sages.  There  is  little  difficulty  in  understanding  any 
particular  expressions  which  they  contain. 

Bearing  the  cross  is  an  allusion  to  the  custom  of 
the  Romans,  who  compelled  the  criminal  to  bear  his 
own  cross  to  the  place  of  execution ;  and  "  the  figure 
expresses  with  great  energy  the  readiness*  which 
every  Christian  ought  to  exhibit,  in  enduring  the 
severest  reproaches,  cruelties,  and  even  the  most  ig 
nominious  death,  for  the  sake  of  Christ." 

The  hating1  of  the  father  and  the  mother,  is  evi 
dently  to  be  understood  in  a  modified  sense  ;  intimat 
ing  that  every  tie  must  be  sacrificed,  and  every 
attachment  disregarded,  which  comes  into  competi 
tion  with  Christ  and  his  religion.  As  compared  with 
Christ,  the  nearest  relatives  are  to  be  hated;  they 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  113 

must  be  loved  less  than  Christ ;  the  word  hate,  as  in 
Gen.  29  :  31.  John  12 :  25,  and  Rom.  9  :  13,  meaning 
to  love  less.  Christ  must  be  loved  supremely ;  with 
a  love  so  much  transcending  the  love  of  kindred  and 
friends,  that  the  latter  may  be  said  to  be  no  love  at 
all.  "  He  that  findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it ;  and  he 
that  loseth  his  life  for  my  sake,  shall  find  it"  is  a  form 
of  expression  wherein  the  same  word  is  used  in  dif 
ferent  senses,  in  order  to  convey  the  sentiment  with 
greater  energy.  The  meaning  may  be  thus  ex 
pressed  :  "  He  that  is  anxious  to  save  his  temporal 
life,  or  his  comfort  or  security  here,  shall  lose  eternal 
life ;  or  shall  fail  of  heaven.  He  that  is  willing  to 
risk  or  lose,  his  comfort  and  life  here,  for  my  sake, 
shall  find  everlasting  life,  or  shall  be  saved." 

The  forsaking  of  all  that  one  hath,  as  a  condition 
of  discipleship,  does  not  imply  that  Christians  should, 
in  all  cases,  leave  their  business  and  friends,  and 
comforts  and  possessions ;  but  rather  that  they  must 
be  willing'  to  do  this,  prepared  for  even  this  trial  and 
sacrifice,  if  the  commandment  and  providence  of 
God  call  them  to  it. 

The  great  lesson  which  these  Scriptures  teach,  is 
that  of  self-denial  for  Christ.  This  is  made  a  posi 
tive  test  of  the  sincerity  of  one's  profession.  It  is  so 
in  the  things  of  this  world.  We  judge  of  one's 
patriotism,  not  by  Ms  pretensions  and  professions, 
but  by  his  willingness  to  sacrifice  his  own  interests 
for  his  country's  good.  The  depth  of  a  parent's 
affection  for  his  children,  is  best  known  by  his  readi 
ness  to  toil  and  to  suffer  for  their  advantage.  And 
you  doubt  the  friendship  of  a  neighbor,  though  pro 
fessing  to  be  never  so  friendly,  if,  when  sick,  or  in 
10* 


114  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

destitution  or  distress,  he  is  not  willing  to  sacrifice 
his  own  gratifications  for  your  comfort  and  relief. 
And  so  one  cannot  be  a  friend  of  Christ,  a  true  dis 
ciple,  unless  he  be  willing  to  part  with  any  thing  and 
every  thing'  for  Christ.  No  matter  what  the  object 
of  affection  may  be,  if  he  cannot  and  will  not  part 
with  it,  in  case  Christ  requires  it,  and  is  to  be  glori 
fied  by  his  parting  with  it,  he  fails  of  possessing  the 
qualifications  of  a  true  Christian.  Christ  must  be 
preferred  to  every  thing  else.  His  will  and  pleasure 
must  be  our  supreme  law. 

"  Although  the  yearning  bowels  of  a  tender 
mother,  and  the  gray  hairs  of  an  indulgent  father," 
says  Whitby,  "  should  be  pleaded  as  motives  to 
induce  me  to  break  the  least  command  of  the  holy 
Jesus ;  though  the  authority  of  civil,  natural,  or 
ecclesiastical  superiors  should  tempt  me  to  do  what 
Christ  forbids ;  though  authority  should  allure  me 
with  proffers  of  the  highest  honors  or  rewards,  or 
endeavor  to  affright  me  with  the  severest  menaces ; 
yet  if  all  these  considerations  should  prevail  with 
me  to  gratify  myself  and  them,  by  doing  that  which 
my  own  conscience  and  God's  word  assures  me  will 
be  displeasing  to  my  Saviour,  or  opposite  to  his 
commands ;  it  is  evident  that  I  regard  myself,  or 
them,  more  than  I  do  my  Saviour,  and  therefore  am 
unworthy  of  him,  and  cannot  be  sincerely  his  dis 
ciple." 

Henry  remarks  that,  "  for  the  gains  of  a  bargain, 
we  must  come  up  to  its  terms.  Now  the  terms  are 
settled.  If  religion  be  worth  any  thing,  it  is  worth 
every  thing ;  therefore  all  who  believe  its  truth  will 
come  up  to  the  price  of  it ;  and  they  will  make  it 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  115 

their  business  and  bliss,  will  make  every  thing  else 
yield  to  it.  Those  who  like  not  Christ  on  these 
terms  may  leave  him  —  at  their  peril.  .  .  .  The  pearl 
of  price  is  worth  what  we  give  for  it.  .  The  terms 
are  that  we  must  prefer  Christ ;  first  before  our  near 
est  and  dearest  relations,  father  or  mother ',  son  or 
daughter.  .  .  .  Children  must  love  their  parents,  and 
parents  their  children ;  but  if  they  love  them  better 
than  Christ,  they  are  unworthy  of  him.  As  we  must 
not  be  deterred  from  Christ  by  the  hatred  of  our  rela 
tions,  so  we  must  not  be  drawn  from  him  by  their 
love.  Christians  must  be  as  Levi,  who  said  to  his 
father,  I  have  not  seen  him.  Secondly,  before  our  ease 
and  safety.  We  must  take  up  our  cross  and  follow 
him.  .  .  .  Thirdly,  before  even  life.  He  that  findeth  his 
life  shall  lose  it,  —  and  he  who  thinks  he  has  found 
it,  when  he  has  saved  it  by  denying  Christ,  shall  lose 
it  in  an  eternal  death." 

And  let  it  be  observed  that  this  self-denial  is 
spoken  of  as  a  constant  practice.  The  cross  is  to 
be  borne  "  daily."  "  Great  is  the  emphasis  of  this 
word,"  says  Beza,  "which  indeed  implies  that  as 
day  succeeds  day,  so  would  one  cross  follow 
another."  The  divine  hand  has  planted  crosses  all 
along  life's  pathway.  We  meet  them  at  every  step, 
nor  are  we  at  liberty  to  avoid  them.  We  must 
"  stoop  to  the  burden,"  and  as  meekly,  willingly, 
rejoicingly  bear  it,  as  Christ  for  us  bore  his  cross. 
Sometimes  the  cross  will  consist  in  denying  the 
cravings  of  pride,  ambition,  the  love  of  money,  ease, 
pleasure,  —  sometimes  in  blasting  fair  prospects  for 
wealth  and  preferment,  lest  they  prove  detrimental 
to  our  piety,  —  sometimes  in  sacrificing  endeared 


116  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

friendships,  —  sometimes  in  enduring  contempt,  and 
hardship,  and  abuse,  and  perhaps  the  loss  of  all 
things,  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  —  but,  in  the  spirit  of 
him  who  for  our  sakes  became  poor,  that  we  through 
his  poverty  might  be  made  rich,  we  are  to  suffer  and 
endure,  counting  it  enough  that  the  servant  be  as 
his  Lord. 

So  also  is  the  cross  to  be  borne  by  all  of  Christ's 
followers.  In  this  divine  law  of  self-denial  there  is 
no  limitation  of  time  or  individuals.  The  most  com 
prehensive  and  explicit  of  the  Scriptures  referred  to, 
was  first  spoken  to  "  great  multitudes,"  and  by  no  just 
rule  of  interpretation  can  it  be  made  to  appear  that 
these  requirements  are  not  in  full  force  to-day,  as 
truly  as  when  they  were  first  promulged.  Were  the 
Christians  of  primitive  times,  in  obedience  to  these 
commands  of  Christ,  required  to  "  mortify  their  mem 
bers  which  are  on  the  earth,"  "  denying  ungodliness 
and  every  worldly  lust  ?  "  to  this  duty  are  those  of 
our  own  day  equally  bound.  The  sinful  propensi 
ties, —  those  unlawful  out-shootings  of  a  partially 
sanctified  nature,  which,  like  noxious  weeds,  are  ever 
springing  up  and  sprouting  afresh,  —  must  be  sub 
dued  and  kept  in  subjection,  or  we  are  no  more  wor 
thy  of  Christ,  than  were  those  of  earlier  days  who 
were  "  drawn  away  of  their  own  lusts  and  enticed." 
Were  they  required,  by  the  spirit  of  this  law,  to 
"love  not  the  world,  neither  the  things  that  are  in 
the  world,"  and  be  "  not  conformed  "  to  it,  but  "  cru 
cified  to  the  world,"  while  it  was  crucified  to  them  ? 
The  same  is  required  of  us. 

Any  soul  that  is  right  with  God  is  a  crucified 
soul.  It  has  undergone  a  painful  death  to  worldly 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  117 

objects.  And  if  it  lives  again  in  its  attachment  to 
earth,  —  if  we  find  ourselves  embracing  the  world, 
and  loving  it,  —  there  is  just  occasion  for  alarm. 
The  cross  has  been  evaded.  It  has  not  been  "daily" 
borne.  It  must  be  resumed ;  and  we  are  not  to  rest 
satisfied  until  the  inward  crucifixion  again  takes 
place ;  until  we  have  "  no  eye  for  the  world's  posses 
sions,  no  ear  for  the  world's  applause,  no  tongue  for 
the  world's  envious  or  useless  conversation,  no  terror 
for  the  world's  opposition ; "  and  we  experience 
Tauler's  description  of  what  it  is  to  be  inwardly 
crucified :  "  to  cease  entirely  from  the  life  of  self ;  to 
abandon  equally  what  we  see  and  what  we  possess, 
our  power,  our  knowledge,  and  our  affections ;  so 
that  the  soul  in  regard  to  any  action  originating  in 
itself,  is  without  life,  without  action,  and  without 
power,  and  receives  its  life,  its  action,  and  its  power 
from  God  alone."  Were  the  early  Christians  called 
upon  to  sunder  the  tenderest  ties  of  affection,  if  nec 
essary,  to  their  own  spiritual  good,  and  the  advance 
ment  of  Christ's  cause  ?  The  same  is  true  of  our 
selves.  Is  the  Saviour  less  worthy  of  our  highest 
love  ?  May  any  earthly  attachment  be  allowed  to 
usurp  the  place  of  that  supreme  attachment  due  to 
him? 

Pursuing  the  path  of  duty,  it  often  becomes  neces 
sary,  in  order  to  the  highest  good,  to  sacrifice  social, 
parental,  and  filial  affection.  As  of  old,  one's  foes 
are  sometimes  those  of  his  own  household.  Obedi 
ence  to  Christ  sets  at  variance  "  a  man  against  his 
father,  and  the  daughter  against  her  mother,  and  the 
daughter-in-law  against  her  mother-in-law."  In  other 


118  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

cases  it  becomes  necessary  that  the  most  endeared 
society  and  companionship  of  mutual  friends  be  in 
terrupted  ;  perhaps  a  missionary  parent  being  called 
to  tear  himself  from  his  own  children,  born  in  heathen 
lands,  but  now,  of  necessity,  placed  beyond  their 
corrupting  influences,  or  a  sister  or  brother  respond-' 
ing  to  the  divine  call,  and  forsaking  father  and 
brother  to  go  far  hence  to  the  Gentiles,  or  toil  in 
some  distant  and  inaccessible  portion  of  the  Lord's 
vineyard.  But,  trying  as  is  the  loss  of  esteemed 
friendship,  and  keen  as  is  the  anguish  attending  the 
separation  of  those  long  united,  it  must  be  endured ; 
for  unless  the  heart  cling  with  more  ardent  feelings 
and  a  firmer  grasp  to  Jesus  Christ,  than  to  parents 
or  children,  or  sisters  or  brothers,  how  can  we  sup 
pose  ourselves,  according  to  Christ's  representations, 
to  be  his  disciples  ? 

And  so  of  houses  and  lands,  and  gold  and  silver, 
the  material  treasures  of  earth.  Why  should  our 
Saviour's  language  concerning  the  duty  of  forsaking 
all  these,  for  his  sake  and  the  gospel's,  be  considered 
as  exclusively,  or  even  especially,  applicable  to  Chris 
tians  of  primitive  times  ?  Is  not  the  love  of  money, 
in  our  day,  just  as  truly  "  the  root  of  all  evil  ?  "  Is 
it  not  even  more  liable  to  come  into  competition 
with  the  supreme  love  of  Christ  ?  Can  we  "  love 
the  world,  and  the  things  that  are  in  the  world,"  and 
yet  have  within  us  the  "  love  of  the  Father  ?  "  Can 
we  cleave  to  our  property,  and  hug  our  possessions, 
when  Christ  is  calling  us  to  relinquish  them  for  the 
good  of  his  cause,  and  still  be  his  disciples  ?  Let  us 
not  deceive  ourselves.  Let  us  rest  assured  that  it  is 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  119 

as  true  now  as  formerly,  that  he  that  is  not  ready,  at 
Christ's  requirement,  to  forsake  " all  that  he  hath" 
cannot  be  his  disciple. 

Thus  much  has  seemed  necessary  to  the  proper 
development  of  the  divine  law  of  self-denial;  con 
sidered  in  reference  to  its  uses,  the  method  and  spirit 
of  its  exercise,  its  partial  illustration  in  the  remotest 
periods  of  the  world,  its  complete  development  in 
the  example  of  Christ  and  his  immediate  followers, 
and  in  his  own  positive  instructions,  and,  finally,  in 
its  universal  applicability. 

And  this  examination  has  rendered  obvious  a 
most  important  conclusion;  which  is,  that  self-denial 
is  the  great  law  of  the  Christian  religion.  It  is  noth 
ing  less  than  an  actual  condition  of  discipleship. 
When  we  are  first  found  of  Christ,  we  are  in  love 
of  self  and  the  world.  That  love  is  supreme. 

But  the  whole  tendency  of  Christianity  is  in  the 
contrary  direction.  Christ  must  be  exalted,  and 
become  "all  in  all."  Self  must  be  abased,  and  the 
Saviour  enthroned  in  the  soul.  There  is,  there  can 
be  no  true  conversion  where  the  dominion  of  selfish 
ness  is  not  broken.  And  there  can  be  no  progress  in 
religion  without  it.  An  ingenious  writer  remarks 
that  "  there  is  just  as  much  religion  as  there  is  self- 
denial."  "  Our  religion,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "is  exactly 
in  proportion  as  we  are  borne  away  by  the  love  of 
God  and  his  creatures  from  self,  and  stand  ready, 
from  that  heavenly  principle,  to  sacrifice  personal 
ease,  comfort,  and  property,  to  advance  the  kingdom 
of  righteousness." 


120  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

There  are  no  two  things  under  heaven  more  an 
tagonistic,  than  are  self-indulgence  and  growth  in 
grace.  Some  trees  bear  fruit  most  plentifully  when 
the  branches  are  hung  with  weights ;  and  so  God's 
children  "bear  much  fruit"  when  they  daily,  hourly, 
bear  the  cross.  This  was  the  experience  of  Henry 
Martyn.  "  A  despicable  indulgence,"  says  he,  "  gave 
me  such  a  view  of  my  character  that  on  my  knees  I 
resolved  to  live  a  life  of  greater  self-denial.  The  love 
and  vigor  of  my  mind  rose  rapidly,  and  all  those 
duties  from  which  I  usually  shrank,  seemed  recrea- 
ations."  And  the  testimony  of  this  devoted  servant 
of  Christ  is  confirmed  by  the  experience  of  every 
true  Christian. 

"We  come  now  to  the  inquiry,  Is  there  a  just  meas 
ure  of  this  self-denial  for  Christ  among1  the  Christians 
of  the  present  day?  Let  the  general  reluctance  of 
professedly  pious  parents,  to  give  up  their  sons  as  mis 
sionaries  to  the  heathen,  testify. 

A  missionary  once  remarked,  that  many  parents 
were  quite  ready  to  consecrate  their  children  to  this 
service  before  they  were  converted.  "  O  if  the  Sav 
iour  would  only  convert  my  child,  I  would  readily 
yield  him  to  go  to  any  part  of  the  world,  and  to  per 
form  any  service  for  which  he  might  be  fitted."  But 
that  when  the  child  becomes  converted,  the  parents 
cling  to  him,  and  dissuade  him  from  devoting  him 
self  to  the  service,  if  he  is  drawn  toward  it.  The 
testimony  is  too  true. 

It  is  stated  that,  of  twenty  or  more  young  men  in 
a  theological  institution,  who  were  at  the  same  time 
agitating  the  question  of  their  duty  to  become  mis- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  121 

sionaries,  all  but  two  were  discouraged  by  their 
parents,  and  these  two  were  the  sons  of  widows. 
Does  this  look  like  the  self-denial  of  primitive  times  ? 

Again  ;  let  the  treasuries  of  our  benevolent  societies 
testify  upon  the  question  proposed.  That  self-denial 
in  giving  of  their  substance  for  the  furtherance  of 
Christ's  cause,  is  not  practised  among  Christians,  to 
any  considerable  extent,  would  seem  too  obvious  to 
require  proof.  It  is  true  that  within  a  half  century, 
it  has  become  quite  customary  for  the  members  of 
the  churches  to  contribute  for  the  promotion  of 
benevolent  enterprises,  and  that  in  some  instances 
the  wealthy  give  largely. 

But  this  does  not  affect  the  question  before  us. 
What  is  self-denial  ?  Is  it,  as  one  has  asked,  to  give 
liberally  of  our  income,  yet  withholding  for  ourselves 
the  whole  of  the  vested  wealth  from  which  it  is 
derived  ?  Is  it  to  make  large  donations  to  the  desti 
tute  and  miserable,  retaining  enough  to  live  accord 
ing  to  the  fashion  of  this  world,  in  luxury  and  splen 
dor?  It  is  something  far  removed  from  all  this.  To 
decide  the  question  of  self-denial,  let  it  be  asked,  not 
"  what  have  you  given  ?  "  but  "  what  have  you  kept  ?  " 
You  plead  that  you  have  given.  Admit  it,  but  have 
you  not  also  withheld?  And  if  you  have  withheld 
so  as  to  admit  of  a  life  of  luxurious  extravagance, 
where  is  your  self-denial ?  "I  contribute  as  much  as  I 
conveniently  can,"  is  an  expression  sometimes  heard ; 
and  it  defines  the  popular  standard  of  giving.  And 
yet  how  strange  an  expression  to  be  found  in  a  Chris 
tian's  lips !  "  As  much  as  I  conveniently  can  contrib 
ute  ! "  As  if  convenience  were  the  arbitrator  to  which 
one  might  refer  the  amount  of  his  charity!  Then 
11 


122  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

if  your  style  of  living  is  only  sufficiently  extravagant, 
you  will  have  nothing  to  give,  for  it  will  swallow  up 
your  entire  income !  Upon  this  principle  the  most 
wealthy  will  oftentimes  have  the  least  to  bestow. 
Suppose  that  Christ  had  listened  to  the  dictates  of 
convenience,  —  and  the  good  men  and  true  of  ages 
past,  the  benefactors  of  their  race,  —  what  had  been 
the  present  stage  of  human  progress  ?  Nay,  Chris 
tian,  what  had  been  your  prospects  for  eternity? 

And  suppose,  again,  that  the  early  disciples  had 
possessed  as  little  of  the  liberal,  self-sacrificing  spirit 
as  is  now  generally  possessed.  Suppose  that  our 
type  of  character,  as  regards  self-denial,  had  been 
theirs  ?  With  their  deep  poverty,  and  serious  obsta 
cles  to  rapid  communication,  and  their  limited  num 
bers,  how  narrow  a  circle  would  have  bounded  their 
influence,  and  how  small  a  space  would  have  sufficed 
to  record  the  history  of  their  achievements!  It  is  a 
most  humiliating  reflection  that  the  type  of  our  piety 
in  this  respect,  is  so  nearly  the  reverse  of  the  prim 
itive  model,  that  instances  of  true,  heroic  self-denial, 
are  the  rare  exceptions  of  a  general  fact.  Men  who 
practise  it,  are  looked  upon  almost  with  astonish 
ment,  at  least  with  admiration;  and  their  example  is 
thus  conspicuous,  only  because  it  differs  so  widely 
from  that  of  others.  Would  it  have  been  thus  in  the 
time  of  the  apostles? 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  economizing,  even,  for  the 
purpose  of  increasing  benevolent  expenditures,  is  a 
thing  of  comparatively  infrequent  occurrence.  Sav 
ing  by  economy  is  indeed  common;  but  for  what 
purpose  ?  Is  it  often  done  for  Christ,  with  the  single 
object  of  being  able  to  contribute  toward  the  ad- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  123 

vancement  of  his  cause  in  the  earth?  And  surely, 
though  it  is  not  within  the  province  of  any  one  to 
prescribe  for  others  rules  of  retrenchment,  and  show 
precisely  how  much  or  how  little  they  must  give,  or 
may  retain,  yet,  all  will  admit,  that  the  least  that 
can  be  required  of  any  individual  is,  that  he  save  by 
economy  in  order  to  swell  the  rills  of  his  benevolence. 

But  if  such  examples  are  infrequent,  much  more 
so  are  examples  of  personal  sacrifice  for  Christ.  We 
know  what  it  is  to  make  sacrifices  for  others,  —  what 
sacrifices,  for  instance,  will  parents  make  for  their 
children!  If  a  son  is  lost,  or  imprisoned,  in  some 
distant  country,  or  cast  upon  some  lonely  island, 
how  ready  to  provide,  at  any  expense  and  sacrifice, 
the  means  of  his  deliverance !  Or  if  sick  and  threat 
ened  with  speedy  death,  money  is  not  thought  of, 
personal  comfort  is  not  taken  into  the  account,  nor 
health,  nor,  in  some  cases,  life  itself,  if  the  loved  one 
may  but  recover. 

And  there  are  some  instances  of  sacrificing  for  the 
sake  of  Christ.  A  missionary  mother,  as  she  kneeled 
upon  the  sand  by  the  sea-shore,  after  placing  on 
board  ship  her  darling  offspring,  now  separated  for 
ever  from  her  fond  embrace,  exclaimed,  as  she  looked 
toward  heaven,  "  O  JESUS,  I  DO  THIS  FOR  THEE  !  " 

Other  examples  of  noble  self-immolation  are 
known  and  recorded;  and  others  still  are  unknown 
of  men,  but  observed  and  remembered  of  God. 
Bat  how  few  Christians  voluntarily  subject  them 
selves  to  real  sacrifices  of  any  kind,  that  by  this 
means  God  may  be  glorified,  and  men  saved  from 
the  wrath  which  is  to  come !  "  We  ought,"  says  the 
Apostle  John,  "  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  broth- 


124  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

ren"  But,  alas !  how  few  are  ready  to  lay  down 
even  their  personal  ease  and  comfort !  How  few  will 
give  until  they  feel  it,  absolutely  denying  and  sacrific 
ing  self  for  Christ ! 

Once  more,  let  evidence  be  gathered  from  the  gen 
eral  style  of  living,  as  to  the  measure  of  self-denial 
now  prevalent.  We  are  speaking  of  Christians  ;  and 
one  of  the  divine  commands  addressed  to  them  is, 
"  Be  not  conformed  to  this  world.'1''  As  to  the  exact 
demands  of  this  law,  in  its  varied  applications,  many 
doubts  and  differences  of  opinion  will  naturally 
exist.  But  one  thing  is  certain:  it  contemplates  a 
difference  between  Christians  and  other  men.  They 
are  "  a  peculiar  people ; "  and  it  is  expected  of  them 
that  their  feelings,  and  motives,  and  actions  will  be 
unlike  those  of  others.  They  are  not  to  be  governed 
by  the  laws,  and  opinions,  and  practices  of  this 
world.  Men  of  the  world  have  their  laws,  —  laws 
of  fashion,  ambition,  honor.  Parents  make  laws  for 
their  families ;  and  kings  and  statesmen  for  their 
country ;  and  those  for  whose  control  and  welfare 
they  are  made,  are  expected  to  submit  to  them. 
They  are  not  to  conform  to  the  laws  of  other  fami 
lies  and  countries ;  they  are  not  called  upon  to  obey 
them ;  for  they  belong  to  different  communities,  and 
owe  allegiance  to  different  authorities. 

So  of  Christians.  They  are  a  community  by 
themselves.  They  are  different  from  other  men, 
among  whom  they  are  to  shine  as  lights  in  the  world. 
They  acknowledge  a  different  king,  even  Jesus 
Christ,  They  have  placed  themselves  under  his  au 
thority,  have  pledged  fidelity  to  him,  and  promised 
to  be  governed  by  his  laws,  and  by  his  alone.  They 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  125 

are  in  the  world,  and  must,  of  necessity,  be  in  many 
things  like  the  men  of  the  world.  But  they  are  not 
to  regulate  their  opinions  and  conduct  by  those  of 
worldly  men ;  they  are  not  to  seek  their  approbation 
or  applause,  or  dread  and  shrink  from  their  disappro 
bation,  if  incurred  in  well-doing;  they  are  not  to 
pursue  their  pleasures,  and  follies,  and  amusements, 
and  be  influenced  by  their  motives  and  manner  of 
life.  In  a  word,  they  are  to  conduct  themselves  as 
pilgrims  and  strangers  upon  the  earth,  whose  citizen 
ship  is  in  heaven ;  as  a  people  distinct  from  other 
men,  living  for  a  time  in  the  world,  but  nevertheless 
living  above  it. 

Such  is  the  acknowledged  import  of  the  precept 
forbidding  our  conformity  to  this  world,  and  of  many 
other  Scriptures  of  a  similar  nature.  But  if  some 
celestial  being  were  to  visit  our  earth,  and  mingle  in 
our  affairs,  and  pass  through  our  houses,  would  he 
be  led  to  infer  the  existence  of  any  such  broad  dis 
tinction  as  that  which  has  been  described  ?  Should 
he  enter  one  of  our  large  cities,  and  behold  the  mag 
nificent  houses,  "grand  equipages,"  and  "splendid 
entertainments,"  and  all  the  pomp  and  vanities  of 
"high  life,"  which  may  be  seen  in  these  days  in 
many  Christian  families,  what  would  be  his  surprise 
on  being  informed,  that  among  those  who  roll  in 
such  voluptuousness,  and  perhaps  are  striving  to  be 
foremost  in  the  gay  procession,  are  the  professed  fol 
lowers  of  the  humble,  self-denying  Jesus  !  And  would 
it  be  less  surprising  that  in  the  village  and  country 
parish,  the  customs  of  "the  city"  were  "all  the  rage;" 
and  that  everywhere,  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  the  rich  and  the  poor  were  gath- 
11* 


126  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

ering  around  the  car  of  fashion,  that  "  Juggernaut  of 
Christian  lands,"  eager  to  do  homage  ? 

The  simple  truth  is,  the  world  has  been  suffered  to 
give  laws  to  the  church ;  whereas  the  church  should 
have  given  laws  to  the  world.  And  the  worst  of  all 
is,  there  is  a  general  concurrence  in  this  usurpation. 
"  It  is  customary"  is  the  universal  plea.  "  We  shall 
be  deemed  singular,  if  we  do  not  thus  or  so."  This 
is  enough  to  pacify  the  conscience,  and  thus  the  tide 
of  extravagance  flows  on,  few  raising  the  question  of 
good  old  Bunyan,  "  Why  follow  the  apish  fashions 
of  the  world  ?  Hath  the  God  of  wisdom  set  them 
on  foot  among  us?  or  is  it  because  the  devil  and 
wicked  men,  the  inventors  of  these  vain  toys,  have 
outwitted  the  law  of  God  ?  " 

Imitating  the  example  of  those  by  whom  they 
are  surrounded,  Christians  have  generally  fallen  into 
a  luxurious,  self-indulgent  style  of  living.  And  the 
evil  is  daily  increasing.  The  merchant  prince,  "  who 
enjoyed  his  domestic' establishment  at  an  expense  of 
$2,000  or  $3,000  a  year,  endures  one,  now,  which 
demands  five  or  ten  times  that  sum ;  and  the  wife, 
who  graced  a  $20  or  $50  shawl,  disgraces  herself 
and  her  profession  with  one  costing  from  $500  to 
$1,000."  It  were  well  if  this  foolish  rage  for  show 
were  limited  to  particular  localities.  Its  prevalence 
accounts,  to  a  great  extent,  for  the  small  amount 
bestowed  in  charity.  In  most  cases  it  requires 
nearly  the  whole  income  to  support  the  favorite  style 
of  living ;  certainly  "  to  lay  by  something  for  a  time 
of  need." 

Hence,  as  one  has  it,  "  men  are  draught-horses  of 
mammon.  Women  are  slaves.  Life,  falsely  organ- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  127 

ized,  grinds  God's  children  between  its  upper  and 
nether  mill-stone."  *  They  are  incapacitated  for  any 
thing  beyond  the  most  limited  benevolence,  and  even 
for  the  enjoyment  of  a  contented,  peaceful  life,  amid 
the  good  things  which  they  might  enjoy,  by  the  press 
ure  of  a  desire  "  to  keep  up  appearances,"  and  not 
fall  behind  some  neighbor  or  acquaintance,  whom 
they  are  secretly  attempting  to  rival. 

Beyond  all  question,  the  various  channels  of  un 
necessary  expenditure  are,  to-day,  draining  from  the 
professedly  religious  families  of  our  land,  a  sum  of 
money,  which,  if  rightly  appropriated,  would  prove 
adequate  to  the  broadest  scale  of  Christian  benevo 
lence.  Let  these  be  cut  off,  and  there  would  be 
found  an  abundance,  both  for  personal  comfort  and 
culture,  and  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  No  careful 
observer  of  society  as  now  organized,  can  doubt  the 
truth  of  the  remark,  that  where  avarice,  or  hoarding, 
has  slain  its  thousands,  a  lavish  profusion  has  slain 
its  tens  of  thousands  :  and  where  the  former  robs  the 
cause  of  God  of  a  mite,  the  latter  robs  it  of  a  million. 

A  return,  therefore,  of  the  self-sacrificing  spirit  qf 
the  primitive  Christians,  is  a  grand  necessity  of  the 
times.  Dr.  Neander,  in  his  History  of  the  Christian 
Religion  during  the  First  Three  Centuries,  says,  with 
reference  to  the  struggle  which  the  early  Christians 
were  obliged  to  maintain  against  a  conformity  to  the 
customs  of  society :  "  This  struggle  might  indeed 
have  been  partially  avoided,  had  the  early  church, 
like  the  churches  of  later  days,  been  inclined  to 
humor  the  world,  had  they  at  least  accommodated 

*  Dr.  George  B.  Cheever. 


128  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

themselves  to  the  prevailing  manners,  even  when 
opposed  to  Christianity,  merely  to  obtain  more  fol 
lowers.  But  the  first  Christians  were  far  more  in 
clined  to  a  haughty  abomination  of  every  thing 
heathen,  and  even  of  that  which  had  merely  an 
apparent  connection  with  paganism,  than  to  any  thing 
like  a  lax  accommodation." 

It  is  precisely  this  spirit  that  is  now  required.  In 
stead  of  indulging  in  a  "lax  accommodation"  to 
"  humor  the  world,"  we  need  to  '  come  out  of  the 
world  and  be  separate?  Is  Christ's  kingdom  just 
like  other  kingdoms?  Are  his  followers  just  like 
other  men  ?  Can  it  be  that  they  are  so  to  live  as  to 
render  it  difficult  to  distinguish  them  from  the  impen 
itent  multitude  by  whom  they  are  surrounded  ?  Can 
it  be  that  the  masses  of  men  in  Christian  lands,  who 
are  without  God  in  the  world,  are  so  closely  con 
formed,  in  their  lives,  to  the  divine  standard,  that  it 
is  safe  for  Christians  to  take  their  pattern  from  them  ? 

Far  otherwise.  It  is  still  true,  that  while  "  we  are 
of  God,"  "  the  whole  world  lieth  in  wickedness." 
Men  of  the  world  are  not  the  friends  of  Christ.  They 
still  are  the  enemies  of  the  cross ;  and  such  as  '  will 
live  godly  shall  still  suffer  persecution.' 

Christian  countries  are,  in  an  important  sense, 
unchristian.  The  prevailing  influence  is  not  that  of 
the  gospel.  And  the  followers  of  Jesus  are  in  dan 
ger  of  being  contaminated  by  that  influence,  and 
losing  "  the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ"  To  resist  it, 
requires  moral  courage.  As  large  a  measure  of  self- 
denial  is  requisite,  on  our  part,  to  withstand  the  tide 
of  worldly  influence,  as  was  requisite  on  the  part  of 
the  early  Christians.  The  martyr-spirit  is  still  essen 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  129 

tial  to  a  life  of  eminent  godliness.  And  this  spirit 
waits  a  resurrection.  It  shall  yet  be  revived.  The 
time  is  coming  when  men  shall  act  less  from  impulse 
and  convenience  in  matters  of  religion,  and  more 
from  principle ;  when  they  shall  more  attentively 
study  the  divine  word,  inquiring  within  themselves, 
"  what  sort  of  a  person,  in  thought  and  in  feeling  and 
in  action,  was  my  SAVIOUR  ?  "  and  esteeming  it  their 
highest  honor  to  be  like  unto  him  in  all  things. 

"  Our  blessed  Lord,"  says  an  early  Christian  writer, 
"  ate  his  food  from  a  common  dish.  He  sat  upon  the 
ground,  and  washed  his  disciples'  feet  without  a  sil 
ver  basin.  Nay,  he  quenched  his  thirst  from  the 
earthen  pitcher  of  a  poor  Samaritan  woman.  And 
are  we  better  than  he  ?  Will  not  a  table  contain  our 
food,  unless  its  legs  be  ivory  ?  Certain  it  is,  that  a 
lamp  made  by  a  potter  will  give  light  as  well  as  if  it 
were  the  work  of  a  silversmith." 

The  time  is  coming  when  Christians  shall  answer 
to  the  device  of  an  ancient  medal,  now  adopted  by 
a  modern  missionary  association,  representing  a  bul 
lock  standing  between  a  plough  and  an  altar,  with 
the  inscription,  " Ready  for  either"  Ready  to  drag 
and  swelter  in  the  field  of  service,  or  bleed  on  the 
altar  of  sacrifice. 

The  time  is  coming  when  one  may  easily  discern 
between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked;  when  the 
saints  of  the  Most  High  shall  be  like  unto  their 
brethren  of  former  times,  of  whom  one  of  their  own 
number  says,  "They  inhabit  their  native  land,  but 
only  as  sojourners.  They  take  a  part  in  all  things 
as  citizens,  but  endure  all  things  as  foreigners  ;  every 
foreign  country  is  to  them  a  native  land,  and  every 


130  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

native  country  a  foreign  land.  .  .  .  They  live  in  the 
flesh,  but  not  after  the  flesh.  They  pass  their  time 
on  earth,  but  their  citizenship  is  in  heaven.  They 
obey  the  existing  laws,  but  in  their  lives  they  tran 
scend  all  laws.  They  love  all  and  are  persecuted  by 
all.  They  live  unknown  and  are  condemned  to 
death.  They  are  slain,  and  behold  they  live."  * 

The  time  is  coming  when  men  will  look  back  upon 
what  is  called  the  Christian  activity  of  this  age,  with 
even  greater  surprise  than  we  contemplate  the  inac 
tivity  of  those  who  have  preceded  us;  when  our 
brightest  illustrations  of  self-denial  for  Christ,  shall 
become  so  common  as  to  attract  no  special  atten 
tion  ;  and  those  who  exhibit,  in  this  respect,  no  more 
of  the  spirit  of  Christ  than  is  now  exhibited  by  the 
mass  of  professors,  will  be  hardly  acknowledged  as 
worthy  of  the  Christian  name. 

Then  shall  Zion  have  put  on  her  strength,  and 
naught  shall  resist  her  progress.  Then,  by  an  argu 
ment  of  irresistible  power,  shall  men  be  persuaded 
of  the  reality  of  our  holy  religion ;  and,  dispossessed 
of  self,  "  God,  even  our  God,  shall  bless  us  ;  God 
shall  bless  us,  and  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  fear 
him." 

Nor  are  we  left  in  ignorance  as  to  the  means  and 
motives  by  which  an  increase  of  this  spirit  is  to  be 
secured.  They  are  furnished  in  the  cross  of  Christ. 
The  great  actuating  principle  in  evangelical  piety  is 
love.  Other  motives  to  holy  obedience  there  are, 


*  Epistle  to  Diognetus.  See  this  beautiful  fragment  of  early 
Christian  literature  entire  in  Dr.  Turnbull's  "  Christ  in  History,  or 
the  Central  Power  among  Men." 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  131 

but,  compared  with  this,  they  hold  a  rank  of  minor 
importance.  "  The  love  of  Christ  constmineth  us." 
This  is  the  hidden  mainspring  that  sets  in  motion 
every  part  of  our  being. 

'  'T  is  love  that  makes  our  cheerful  feet 
In  swift  obedience  move.' 

Love  prompts  to  entire  devotion.  "  Every  drop 
of  my  blood  thanks  you,"  cried  a  condemned  crim 
inal,  as  he  cast  himself  at  the  feet  of  Dr.  Doddridge, 
who  had  procured  his  pardon,  "for  you  have  had 
mercy  upon  every  drop  of  it.  Wherever  you  go,  I 
will  be  yours"  Love  inspires  the  desire  to  please. 
We  are  slow  to  grieve  a  bosom  friend.  Said  our 
Saviour,  "  If  a  man  love  me  he  will  keep  my  words." 
It  cannot  be  otherwise.  And  hence  the  strong  lan 
guage  of  some  of  the  early  Christians,  on  whose 
hearts  the  pure  flame  of  love  burned  so  brightly. 
"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  one,  "  much  more  bitter  to 
offend  Christ,  than  to  be  tormented  in  hell."  Another 
declares,  "  I  say  the  truth,  if  on  one  hand  I  saw  the 
pains  of  hell,  and  on  the  other  the  horror  of  sinning 
against  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  I  must  be  plunged  in 
one,  I  would  choose  the  pains  of  hell,  —  I  could 
never  sin  against  this  love."  We,  too,  could  adopt 
such  language,  if,  like  them  we  were  so  full  of 
love  divine,  as  to  be  '  beside  ourselves  unto  God.' 

Love  leads  to  ready  sacrifices.  From  the  force  of 
this  principle,  the  mother  disregards  her  own  coin- 
fort  for  the  babe  of  her  bosom ;  the  father  or  husband 
lavishes  his  hard  earnings  upon  a  companion,  or 
children;  and  the  patriot  sacrifices  himself  for  the 
good  of  his  country.  "  What  a  pity,"  cried  the 


PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

Roman,  "  that  we  have  but  one  life  for  our  country ! " 
Christ's  yoke  is  easy,  and  his  burden  is  light,  when 
we  are  borne  upward  and  onward  by  the  transport 
ing  power  of  love. 

Now  this  grace,  like  all  others,  grows  by  exercise. 
And  where  else  is  it  called  into  exercise,  as  at  the 
cross  of  Christ  ?  How  much  the  Saviour  loved  us, 
is  best  seen  in  what  he  has  done  and  suffered  for  us. 
In  like  manner  our  love  to  him  is  best  proved  by 
doing  his  will  and  bearing  his  cross.  At  his  cross 
must  we  linger,  if  w^e  would  awaken  all  that  is  ten 
der  in  affection,  and  self-sacrificing  in  devotion.  On 
Calvary  is  found  "  a  demonstration  to  convince  the 
mind,  and  a  talisman  to  kindle  the  heart."  How 
can  we  fail  to  love  Christ,  and  strengthen  the  princi 
ple  of  entire  self-devotement,  if  we  study  our  obliga 
tions  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  ? 

Under  the  inspiration  of  the  affecting  scenes  that 
cluster  around  that  sacred  spot,  self-denial  becomes 
a  pleasure.  It  is  a  positive  relief  to  suffer.  We  re 
joice  that  we  are  counted  worthy  of  it,  and  are  dis 
satisfied  with  ourselves  if  not  suffering.  We  cannot, 
we  will  not  be  contented  to  offer  to  him  that  which 
costs  us  nothing ;  but  '  gratitude  will  cast  all  her  liv 
ing  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord,  and  Love  will 
pour  her  most  "  precious  ointment "  upon  the  Sav 
iour's  dying  head ;  the  one,  feeling  that  her  all  is  too 
little,  and  the  other,  that  her  most  costly  tribute  is 
too  poor  to  express  the  fervor  of  her  affection,  and 
the  entireness  of  her  devotion.' 

And,  finally,  as  to  yourself,  dear  reader,  what  is 
the  measure  of  your  self-denial?  You  know  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  how  that,  though 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  133 

he  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  he  became  poor,  that 
we  through  his  poverty  might  be  made  rich.  How 
rich  was  he  !  rich  in  honor,  and  glory,  and  dominion, 
and  bliss,  and  power!  And  how  poor  did  he  become 
for  our  sakes !  What  poverty  marked  his  birth  and 
his  entire  history !  And  added  to  this,  what  crush 
ing  sorrows,  what  overwhelming  sufferings,  has  he 
endured  for  you !  And  what  returns  have  you  ren 
dered  ?  How  much  have  YOU  suffered  for  HIM  ?  Can 
you  suffer  too  much  ?  Is  there  any  sacrifice  too  costly 
to  present,  as  a  feeble  expression  of  your  grateful 
emotions  ? 

O  no !  As  you  behold  that  suffering  Saviour,  you 
cannot  but  count  your  best  gifts  as  mean  and  noth 
ing  worth ;  and  from  your  heart  exclaim, 

"  Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 
That  were  a  present  far  too  small  : 
Love  so  amazing,  so  divine, 

Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  ALL  ! " 


12 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE    WANT    OF    A    SCRIPTURAL    FAITH,    A    GRAND     DEFECT   IN 
THE   PREVAILING    TYPE    OF   PIETY. 

Faith  defined.  —  Scriptural  Examples.  —  Sublime  Eesults.  —  Brings  to 
view  Eternal  Things.  —  Secures  Sanctification.  —  Imparts  Activity 
and  Strength.  —  Enables  us  to  overcome  the  World. —  A  Scriptural 
Faith  not  prevalent.  —  Skepticism  in  the  Church.  —  As  to  Prayer  and 
Missions,  and  other  Departments  of  Christian  Duty.— A  Faith  such  as 
is  requisite,  entirely  practicable.  —  Its  Possession  a  cardinal  Necessity 
of  any  Age.  —  Spiritual  Enemies  the  same.  —  World  not  modified  in 
favor  of  the  Church,  but  the  Church  in  favor  of  the  World.  —  Faith  of 
Martyr  Age  still  demanded.  —  Efforts  to  be  made  for  its  Attainment.  — 
May  be  increased.  —  How  effected.  —  Glorious  Results  of  Eeturn  of 
Primitive  Faith.  —  The  Grand  Eemedy  of  all  existing  Defects. 

How  lucid  the  exposition  of  faith  as  given  in  that 
"Roll-call  of  the  Dead," — the  eleventh  chapter  of 
the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews !  "  Now  faith  is  the  sub 
stance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things 
not  seen."  It  is  the  "substance"  —  that  which  is 
placed  under,  the  ground,  the  basis,  the  foundation  ; 
and  hence  the  firm  confidence,  answering  to  the  actual 
existence — "of  things  hoped  for."  Or,  to  take  the 
other  branch  of  the  definition,  it  is  the  "  evidence  of 
things  not  seen ; "  the  evincing  or  bringing  to  light) 
and  hence  the  proof  of  them ;  being  equivalent  to, 
or  supplying  the  place  of,  actual  demonstration.  As 
if  it  had  been  said,  We  do  not  see  the  objects  of 

(134) 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  135 

the  future  world,  —  God,  angels,  the  redeemed,  the 
crowns  of  righteousness,  the  robes  of  glory,  —  but  to 
him  who  has  faith  they  are  not  unreal  and  imaginary, 
but  positive  realities ;  this  faith  answering  for  their 
very  substance,  presenting  them  in  bold  relief,  and 
influencing  its  possessor  just  as  if  he  saw  them  with 
his  natural  eyes. 

"  It  is  the  very  nature  of  faith  to  give  an  uncon 
trollable  efficacy  to  objects  invisible  and  distant.  All 
must  allow  that  the  things  which  God  has  revealed 
would  have  a  mighty  influence  upon  us,  if  they  were 
actually  visible  and  present.  To  faith  they  are  visi 
ble.  To  faith  they  are  present  too.  Faith  removes 
the  distance,  and  makes  them  present  realities.  So 
that  things  which  are  not  seen,  and  things  which  are 
to  take  place  thousands  of  ages  hence,  excite  the 
same  emotions,  and  have  the  same  practical  influ 
ence,  as  though  they  were  actually  visible,  and 
actually  present.  They  are  equally  interesting  to 
us,  as  if  they  were  present;  for  they  will  be  pres 
ent;  and  we  shall  experience  them  and  feel  them, 
when  happiness  will  be  as  dear  to  us,  and  misery  as 
dreadful,  as  they  are  now.  They  deserve  our  regard, 
therefore,  just  as  though  they  were  present.  So  that, 
if  the  infinite  excellences  of  God,  and  the  employ 
ments  and  pleasures  of  heaven  are  sufficient  to  move 
the  hearts  and  govern  the  actions  of  saints  and 
angels  who  are  now  there,  they  are  sufficient  to  move 
and  govern  us.  If  the  transactions  of  the  judgment- 
day,  if  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  Lord  from 
heaven,  the  assembling  of  the  universe  before  him, 
the  disclosure  of  the  secrets  of  all  hearts,  the  final 
sentence,  the  blessedness  of  the  righteous,  and  the 


136  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

horror  and  despair  of  the  wicked,  will  be  sufficient 
to  arrest  the  attention,  and  touch  the  feelings,  and 
move  all  the  active  powers  of  those  who  will  be 
present  on  that  momentous  occasion  ;  they  are  suffi 
cient  to  arrest  our  attention,  to  touch  our  feelings, 
and  move  all  our  powers  of  action  now.  And  just 
so  far  as  we  have  faith,  they  will  do  it.  Men  gener- 
rally  look  at  things  which  are  seen.  Sensible  objects 
govern  their  affections,  and  limit  the  sphere  of  their 
observation.  But  faith  shifts  the  scene.  As  to  the 
grand,  governing  objects  of  the  human  mind,  and 
the  motives  to  action,  it  puts  them  in  a  new  world. 
It  spreads  a  shroud  over  the  things  of  time  and 
sense,  and  opens  to  view  things  unseen  and  eter 
nal."  * 

Having  denned  faith,  the  writer  gives  examples  of 
its  wonderworking  power.  We  are  told  how  it 
wrought  in  Abel,  and  Enoch,  and  Noah ;  in  Abra 
ham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  Joseph,  and  Moses. 
Beyond  these,  others  are  mentioned ;  who,  through 
faith,  subdued  kingdoms,  wrought  righteousness, 
obtained  promises,  stopped  the  mouths  of  lions, 
quenched  the  violence  of  fire,  escaped  the  edge  of 
the  sword,  out  of  weakness  were  made  strong, 
waxed  valiant  in  fight,  and  turned  to  flight  the  armies 
of  aliens.  And  others  still  are  declared  to  have 
been  tortured,  and  tried,  and  mocked,  and  scourged, 
and  stoned,  and  sawn  asunder,  and  slain ;  or  wan 
dered  about  destitute,  afflicted,  and  tormented,  in 
the  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth,  and  yet  to  have 
obtained  through  faith  a  good  report.  '  What  these 


*  See  Tract  No.  13,  of  the  Com*.  Board  Scries. 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  137 

servants  of  God  did  and  suffered  was  by  faith.  Ob 
jects  of  the  future  and  invisible  world,  seemed  as 
present  realities,  and  in  their  esteem  contained  a 
blessedness  so  great  and  precious,  that  it  roused  all 
their  desires  and  all  their  efforts ;  and  in  pursuit  of  it 
hardships  and  sufferings  become  light,  and  the  most 
painful  enterprises  easy  and  pleasant.  Such  was  the 
power  of  faith.'  Placing  before  us  these  and  other 
scriptural  representations  of  this  heavenly  grace, 
its  nature  is  easily  perceived. 

Faith  is  belief  in  things  beyond  our  observation. 
It  is,  in  particular,  confidence  in  God,  —  a  firm,  cor 
dial  belief  in  the  existence  of  the  Most  High,  and  in 
his  veracity,  —  a  full  and  affectionate  persuasion  of 
the  certainty  of  what  God  has  declared,  and  simply 
because  he  has  declared  it.  It  is  not  reasoning,  but 
believing;  not  a  process  of  demonstration,  but  naked 
trust.  The  Lord  hath  spoken,  is  enough.  This  cuts 
short  all  debate,  and  hushes  to  silence  every  objec 
tion.  The  word  of  the  Lord  is  infallible,  and  so  it 
becomes  a  foundation  for  the  most  certain  truths. 

The  Scriptures  have  much  to  say  upon  faith.  No 
attentive  reader  of  the  Bible  can  have  failed  to  ob 
serve  the  frequency  with  which  it  is  made  the  subject 
of  remark.  And  with  reason :  for  behold  its  sublime 
and  beneficent  results. 

Faith  brings  to  view  eternal  things.  The  objects 
of  religion  are  invisible,  inaudible,  impalpable.  No 
man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time ;  nor  may  we  per 
ceive  with  mortal  eyes,  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect,  nor  heaven,  nor  hell.  But  faith  reveals  them 
to  our  view. 

12* 


138  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

"It  pierces  through  the  veil  of  sense, 
And  dwells  in  heavenly  light." 

'  And  therefore  the  apostle  says  of  himself  arid  his 
brethren,  "  We  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight,"  as  much 
as  to  say,  faith  is  the  essential  principle,  or  motive 
power  of  the  Christian  life.  "  We  walk,  —  not  by 
sight"  that  is,  we  are  not  influenced  in  our  conduct 
by  a  regard  to  the  things  which  are  seen.  But  we 
walk  by  faith,  in  things  unseen.  And  how  are  those 
unseen  spiritual  and  eternal  objects  made  known,  so 
that  the  Christian  is  influenced  by  them  in  all  his 
walk  and  conversation,  but  by  faith  ?  And  hence 
Peter  speaks  of  faith  as  purifying  the  heart  and  over 
coming  the  world.  It  is  by  presenting  to  the  mind 
those  unseen,  spiritual,  and  eternal  objects,  as  though 
they  were  present,  and  thus  faith  has  a  controlling 
influence  over  the  affections  and  the  life.' 

Faith  insures  happiness  to  the  child  of  God.  We 
have  "joy  and  peace  in  believing"  The  gospel  is 
glad  tidings  to  the  soul  that  has  faith  to  credit  them. 
It  assures  the  child  of  God  that  Jesus  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  him,  that  every  necessity  shall  be 
supplied,  that  every  dark  stain  of  sin  shall  be  cleansed 
away  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  that  there  awaits 
him  in  heaven,  an  inheritance  that  is  "  incorruptible, 
undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away." 

Faith  secures  our  sanctification.  The  believing 
soul  accepts  the  word  of  God,  —  the  grand  instru 
mentality  in  the  work  of  sanctification,  —  as  the 
word  of  God.  It  comes  to  him  with  authority.  It 
is  clothed  with  power.  He  trembles  before  its  awful 
sanctions,  and  rejoices  in  view  of  its  blessed  assur 
ances.  And  by  each  class  of  truths  is  he  led  to  flee 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  139 

from  sill,  and  follow  after  holiness.  How  can  he 
transgress  if  he  credit  what  is  written  ?  The  pres 
ence  of  God  forbids  it.  His  majesty  makes  him 
afraid.  His  holiness  shames  him  to  contrition  and 
confession;  and  Ms  love  constrains  him  to  holy 
obedience. .  The  cross  overpowers  him.  He  believes 
that  his  Saviour  hung  there.  He  feels  that  he  died 
for  him  on  the  tree,  to  save  him  from  the  curse  of 
sin.  How  can  he  live  any  longer  in  sin  ?  How  can 
he  crucify  afresh  his  best  friend,  and  put  him  to  an 
open  shame. 

"  O  the  sweet  wonders  of  that  cross 
Where  God  the  Saviour  loved  and  died  ! " 

Can  he  stand  beside  that  cross,  and  see,  as  he  does 
see,  by  faith,  the  bleeding,  dying  Lamb  of  God, — 
bleeding  and  dying  for  him,  —  and  commit  sin  ?  Im 
possible.  He  must  turn  away,  first,  from  that  sight. 
He  must  cease,  in  some  sense,  to  believe,  before  he 
can  willingly  transgress. 

Moreover,  faith  promotes  the  sanctification  of  the 
soul  by  holding  it  in  intimate  union  and  communion 
with  Christ.  The  believer,  by  faith,  is  kept  in  vital 
connection  with  the  Saviour;  whence  he  derives 
spiritual  life,  as  the  branch  draws  nourishment  from 
the  vine.  I  am  crucified  with  Christ :  nevertheless 
I  live :  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me :  and  the 
life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh  I  live  by  the  faith 
of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself 
for  me.  A  living  member  of  that  body  of  which 
Christ  is  the  Head,  the  spirit  of  Christ  enters  into 
him,  and  pervades  every  fibre  of  his  whole  being. 
The  vital  influence  from  his  Lord  warms  and  invig 
orates  his  heart.  '  Because  Christ  lives,  he  lives 


140  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

also ; '  and  because  Christ  '  was  dead  unto  sin,'  he 
'  dies  daily  unto  sin.'  Thus  by  faith  does  he  live 
upon  the  Son  of  God,  and  become  more  arid  more 
conformed  to  his  image. 

It  may  be  added,  that  the  experience  of  every 
Christian  is  in  striking  harmony  with  these  represen 
tations.  When  faith  is  wanting  or  feeble,  every  vir 
tue  declines:  when  it  is  strong,  every  Christian 
grace  is  vigorous  and  active. 

The  testimony  of  Richard  Baxter  is  here  much  in 
point.  Referring  to  a  certain  temptation  to  unbelief, 
he  says,  "  From  this  assault  I  was  forced  to  take  no 
tice,  that  our  belief  of  the  truth  of  the  word  of  God 
and  of  the  life  to  come,  is  the  spring  of  all  grace ; 
and  with  which  it  rises  or  falls,  flourishes  or  decays, 
is  actuated  or  stands  still ;  and  that  there  is  more  of 
this  secret  unbelief  at  the  bottom,  than  most  of  us  are 
aware  of;  and  that  our  love  of  the  world,  our  bold 
ness  in  sin,  our  neglect  of  duty,  are  caused  hence.  I 
easily  observed  in  myself,  that,  if  at  any  time,  Satan, 
more  than  at  other  times,  weakened  my  belief  of  the 
Scripture  and  of  the  life  to  come,  my  zeal  in  every 
religious  duty  abated  with  it,  and  I  grew  more  indif 
ferent  in  religion  than  before.  But  when  FAITH  RE 
VIVED,  then  none  of  the  parts  or  concerns  of  religion 
seemed  small ;  and  then  man  seemed  nothing,  and 
the  world  a  shadow,  and  God  was  all." 

Faith  imparts  Christian  courage.  It  nerves  one  to 
suffer  and  endure  for  the  sake  of  Christ.  Heaven  is 
opened  to  the  vision  of  one  who  truly  believes ;  and 
forgetting  the  trials  of  this  present  time  in  view  of 
the  glorious  prospect,  he  exclaims,  "  None  of  these 
things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  141 

myself,  so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy." 
The  deity  is  to  him  a  present  God ;  he  feels  the  gird- 
ings  of  divine  power,  and  '  what  time  he  is  afraid,  he 
trusts  in  him.' 

Hence  the  fortitude  of  a  Nehemiah,  whose  lan 
guage  was,  "  Should  such  a  man  as  I  flee  ?  "  —  of  a 
Paul,  who  was  ready  to  die  even  for  his  religion, — 
of  a  Polycarp.  who  did  die  for  it,  and  who  could  say, 
when  urged  to  blaspheme  Christ  on  pain  of  death, 
"  Eighty  and  six  years  have  I  served  Christ,  and  he 
has  never  done  me  an  injury  ;  how  can  I  blaspheme 
my  King  and  my  Saviour?"  and  on  being  threat 
ened  with  burning  alive,  declared,  "  I  fear  not  the  fire 
that  burns  for  a  moment;  thou  knowest  not  that 
which  burns  forever  and  ever ! "  —  of  a  Chrysostom, 
who,  in  reply  to  the  threats  sent  to  him  from  the 
hand  of  supreme  authority,  said,  "  Go,  tell  Eudoxia 
that  I  fear  nothing  but  sin!"  —  and  of  a  Luther,  who 
would  go  up  to  the  Diet  at  Worms,  *  if  there  were  as 
many  devils  there  as  tiles  upon  the  roofs  of  the 
houses.'  Thus  does  faith  prepare  the  soldier  of  the 
cross  to  meet  the  divine  requirement,  "  Be  thou  very 
courageous." 

Faith  imparts  activity  and  strength.  In  ordinary 
instances,  to  say  the  least,  there  is  an  exact  propor 
tion  between  our  strength  of  belief,  and  our  strength 
of  purpose.  A  strong  faith  makes  a  strong  will.  A 
feeble  purpose  is  the  offspring  of  a  feeble  faith.  And 
so  of  action.  Confidence  induces  perseverance  and 
energy.  Unbelief  benumbs  the  powers. 

" Our  doubts  arc  traitors, 

And  make  us  lose  the  good  we  oft  might  win, 
By  fearing  to  attempt." 


142  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

Faith,  in  the  broad  acceptation  of  belief,  underlies 
all  great  actions.  Confidence  is  at  the  same  time 
the  condition  and  the  pledge  of  success.  Milton  had 
a  foreshadowing  of  his  sublime  production,  long  be 
fore  it  was  matured  in  his  mind.  Many  years  before 
he  commenced  his  task,  he  declared  his  intention  of 
writing  some  great  poem  for  posterity  which  "  the 
world  would  not  willingly  let  die."  Illustrations  to 
almost  any  extent,  might  be  adduced  showing  this 
power  of  assurance  in  the  production  of  sublime 
results. 

If,  in  the  things  of  this  world,  a  deep  persuasion 
of  final  success  leads  to  noble  achievements,  if  under 
the  influence  of  this  persuasion,  men  will  brook  no 
denials,  and  cower  before  no  difficulties,  —  how 
much  more  intrepid  and  energetic  might  he  be  ex 
pected  to  be,  who  is  possessed  of  that  spiritual 
energy,  that  wonderworking  faith  which  is  the  gift 
of  God !  "  The  firmest  thing  in  this  lower  world," 
says  Leighton,  "  is  a  believing  soul."  And  with 
reason ;  for  it  has  hold  upon  divine  power ;  it  is 
allied  to  the  Almighty;  the  impotence  of  the  crea 
ture  is  linked  to  the  omnipotence  of  Jehovah.  "  All 
things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth." 

"  Faith,  mighty  faith,  the  promise  sees, 

And  looks  to  that  alone ; 
Laughs  at  impossibilities 

And  cries,  it  shall  be  done." 

Full  of  faith,  the  believer  is  in  actual  experience 
of  the  presence,  at  his  side,  of  him  who  said,  "  Lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 
He  sees  him  near  at  hand,  and  not  afar  off.  He 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  143 

hears  his  words  of  sweet  assurance ;  and,  knowing 
that  all  power  is  given  unto  Christ,  it  is  to  him  as 
though  that  power  were  in  himself. 

The  connection  between  confidence  in  God,  and 
dauntless,  energetic  activity  in  his  service,  is  appar 
ent  from  the  method  which  our  Lord  adopted,  fully 
to  qualify  his  followers  for  their  trials  and  labors. 
How  intent  was  he  upon  strengthening  their  faith ! 
Anxious  to  know  the  cause  of  their  inability  to 
expel  a  demon,  they  are  told  that  it  was  because  of 
their  unbelief.  Amazed  that  a  fig-tree  should  so 
soon  wither  under  the  frown  of  their  Master,  they 
are  taught  that,  '  if  they  have  faith  and  doubt  not,' 
at  their  word  trees  should  be  plucked  up,  and  moun 
tains  should  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea. 
And,  in  saying  to  them,  as  oft  in  substance  he  did, 
"According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you,"  "  If  ye  abide 
in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what 
ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you,"  what  less 
was  it  than  saying,  '  the  amount  of  your  faith  shall 
be  the  measure  of  your  success  ? '  * 

*  "  Of  course  this,  like  all  other  promises  and  precepts  of  the 
gospel,  must  be  taken  with  such  limitations  as  are  necessarily  in 
volved  in  the  nature  of  the  case.  The  prayer  must  be  real 
prayer,  the  faith  must  be  genuine  and  wellgrounded  faith,  and 
the  objects  must  be  proper  objects  of  desire ;  or,  as  the  Apostle 
John  defines  thern,  "  things  according  to  the  will  of  God."  For 
this  is  only  saying,  that  the  faith  must  be  such  faith  as  the  disci 
ples  of  Christ  might  be  expected  to  exercise,  the  prayer  such 
prayer  as  they  would  be  likely  to  offer,  and  the  objects  such 
objects  as  they  would  naturally  and  reasonably  desire,  under  the 
divine  teachings  of  his  Word  and  Spirit.  Without  such  limita 
tions  the  promise  was  not  fulfilled  to  the  very  chief  of  the  apos 
tles.  With  these  necessary  and  obvious  limitations,  it  was  literally 


144  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

And  was  not  this  true  of  the  immediate  followers 
of  Christ  ?  Did  they  not  believe  beyond  a  peradven- 
ture,  what  the  Lord  had  spoken  ?  Were  they  riot 
mighty  in  deed  because  they  were  "  mighty  in  faith ; " 
even  as  is  related  of  Barnabas,  that  he  was  '  full  of 
faith,'  and  that  'much  people  was  added  unto  the 
Lord  ?  '  Is  it  not  also  true  of  the  successful  workers 
in  our  day  ?  Is  not  the  remarkable  success  of  many 
of  our  missionaries  ascribable  to  the  large  measure 
of  their  faith  ?  Cut  off  from  human  sympathies 
and  resources,  — impressed  with  a  sense  of  their  own 
impotence  in  so  vast  an  undertaking,  they  learn  to 
fall  back  upon  the  strong  arm  of  God.  Shut  up  to 
an  unwavering  reliance  upon  the  simple  promise 
and  pledge  of  the  Most  High,  this  promise  and 
pledge  becomes,  as  by  necessity,  their  only  support, 
and  in  their  weakness  God  perfects  his  strength. 

and  gloriously  fulfilled  to  the  entire  body  of  the  primitive  disci 
ples.  And  in  their  undoubting  reliance  on  this  promise,  in  their 
habitual  use  of  this  Divine  weapon,  lay  the  secret  of  their  strength, 
and  the  certainty  of  their  triumph. 

"  With  the  same  limitations,  the  promise  is  just  as  real,  just  as 
literal,  just  as  reliable,  and  just  as  full  of  truth  and  power  now,  as 
it  ever  was.  All  things  whatsoever  that  we  ask  in  real  prayer, 
and  genuine,  wellgrounded  faith,  and  according  to  the  will  of 
God,  we  shall  receive.  The  time  may  be  delayed,  the  manner 
may  be  unexpected,  but  sooner  or  later,  in  some  form  or  other, 
the  answer  to  believing  prayer  is  sure  to  come,  —  to  come  in 
God's  own  best  time  and  way. 

"  We  cannot  talk  with  God  face  to  face  like  Abraham,  nor  open 
and  shut  the  heavens  like  Elijah,  nor  heal  the  sick  and  raise  the 
dead  like  Peter  and  John  and  Paul,  but  our  importunate  interces 
sions, —  our  oft-repeated  supplications,  may  bring  down  copious 
showers  of  spiritual  blessings  upon  the  waste  places  of  our  Zion." 
—  Prayer  for  Colleges,  by  Professor  Tyler. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  145 

Adoniram  Judson,  during  a  visit  to  the  United 
States,  was  asked  by  a  friend,  "  Do  you  think  the 
prospects  bright  for  the  speedy  conversion  of  the 
heathen  ?  "  "  As  bright,"  was  his  prompt  reply,  "  as 
the  promises  of  God."  And  what  one  has  said  of 
him,  is  doubtless  applicable  to  many  a  missionary  of 
the  cross.  His  faith  seemed  "  to  place  him  in  direct 
communication  with  God.  It  never  appeared  to 
him  possible,  for  a  moment,  that  God  could  fail  to 
do  precisely  as  he  had  said;  and  he  therefore  relied 
on  the  divine  assurance  with  a  confidence  that  ex 
cluded  all  wavering.  He  believed  that  Burmah  was 
to  be  con-verted  to  Christ,  just  as  much  as  he  believed 
that  Burrnah  existed.  He  believed  that  he  had  been 
sent  there  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  he  as  much  be 
lieved  that  the  Holy  Ghost  would  make  his  labors, 
in  some  way,  or  at  some  time,  the  means  of  the  sal 
vation  of  the  nation,  as  he  believed  that  there  was  a 
Holy  Ghost.  In  prayer  he  asked  not  as  a  duty,  nor 
even  as  a  pleasure,  but  he  asked  that  he  might  re 
ceive.  He  acted  on  the  assurance  that  his  heavenly 
Father  delighted  to  bestow  upon  him  whatever  was 
for  his  best  good.  It  was  a  common  thing  for  him 
to  ask  until  he  received  in  his  own  consciousness  an 
assurance  that  his  requests  would  be  granted."  *  Is 


*  Wayland's  Memoir  of  Dr.  Judson,  Vol.  II.  pp.  380,  381. 

When  Samuel  J.  Mills  was  about  to  leave  home  to  attend 
school,  his  mother,  anxious  for  her  son,  took  this  opportunity  to 
inquire  into  the  state  of  his  mind.  In  a  season  of  revival  young 
Mills  had  been  deeply  exercised  with  a  sense  of  his  own  sinful- 
ness.  He  had  felt  great  hostility  to  the  sovereignty  of  God  in 
showing  mercy  to  those  around  him,  while  he  himself  was  left  to 
obduracy  and  unbelief,  and  he  frankly  disclosed  these  feelings  to 

13 


146  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

it  surprising  that  men  of  such  faith  should  toil  on 
amidst  all  possible  discouragements,  and  that  God 
should  constitute  them  his  prime  agents,  in  subduing 
unto  himself  a  revolted  race  ? 

And,  finally,  as  regards  the  results  of  faith,  it 
enables  us  to  overcome  the  ivorld.  "  THIS  is  THE  VIC 
TORY  THAT  OVERCOMETH  THE  WORLD,  EVEN  OUR  FAITH." 

That  is,  faith  is  the  source,  or  means  of  the  victory 
which  we  achieve  over  the  world.  Its  evil  examples, 

liis  mother,  and  soon  took  his  leave  for  the  winter.  His  farewell 
to  his  mother  under  these  circumstances  drove  her  to  her  knees, 
to  plead  for  her  poor  son.  And  God  was  pleased  to  show  her 
that  all  her  help  was  in  him,  and  to  enable  her  to  feel  that  to  him 
could  her  heart  turn  as  her  only  God  in  covenant.  She  did  not 
leave  her  closet  till  she  found  the  full  relief  she  sought,  and 
till  her  mind  was  confidently  assured  that  God  would  remember 
mercy  for  her  child  !  And  on  that  very  morning  it  pleased  the 
Holy  Spirit,  as  she  afterwards  ascertained,  to  knock  off  the  chains 
from  this  unhappy  prisoner,  and  introduce  him  into  the  liberty  of 
the  sons  of  God.  He  had  not  gone  far  after  thus  leaving  his 
mother,  before  he  had  such  a  view  of  the  perfections  of  God,  that 
he  wondered  he  had  never  seen  their  beauty  and  glory  before. 
He  had  lost  all  his  opposition  to  the  divine  sovereignty,  and  such 
were  his  views  of  this  adorable  perfection  that  he  could  not  refrain 
from  exclaiming,  "  O  glorious  sovereignty !  O  glorious  sovereign 
ty  ! "  There  was  a  wonderful  change.  The  scene  was  altogether 
new.  Every  thing  was  gilded  with  light  and  glory,  and  as  he 
gazed  at  the  splendor  and  majesty  of  the  divine  character,  he 
would  still  exclaim,  "  O  glorious  sovereignty !  "  Such  was  the  an 
swer  to  this  mother's  prayer.  And  this  is  one  of  the  thousand 
cases  to  illustrate  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  special  faith  in 
prayer.  It  was  such  to  this  dear  saint  when  she  went  to  plead 
for  her  poor  son.  She  deeply  felt  his  sorrows  and  her  own,  and 
with  earnest  importunity  she  plead,  and  her  prayer  prevailed  with 
God.  —  See  Life  of  Samuel  J.  Mills,  by  Dr.  Spring. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  147 

—  its  false  principles,  —  and  false  promises,  and  its 
persecutions,  —  every  thing  in  the  world  that  is  op 
posed  to  the  religion  of  the  gospel,  —  as  we  are  here 
taught,  we  overcome  by  faith.  The  victory  spoken 
of,  is  "the  subordination  in  the  state  of  our  mind,  of 
the  creature  to  the  Creator ;  of  earth  to  heaven ;  of 
temporal  blessings  to  spiritual  ones ;  of  time  to  eter 
nity.  It  is  the  formation  of  an  unearthly,  spiritual, 
divine,  heavenly  character."  This  victory  is  gained 
by  means  of  faith ;  which  is  the  line  of  communica 
tion  between  heaven  and  earth,  along  which  travels 
down  from  God's  throne  to  the  human  heart,  that 
principle  which  fills  it  with  a  strange  and  mighty 
energy. 

And  how  does  faith  operate,  in  securing  to  us  this 
victory?  By  putting  us  into  communication  with 
Christ,  as  just  intimated.  Christ  himself  has  already 
achieved  this  victory.  He  says,  "  Be  of  good  cheer ; 
I  have  overcome  the  world."  He  excites  in  the 
bosom  of  the  disciple  no  false  hope  of  ease  and 
undisturbed  tranquillity ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  assures 
him  that  'in  the  world  he  shall  have  tribulation.'  "  It 
is  enough  that  the  disciple  be  as  his  Master."  Yet, 
if  he  is  left  to  no  uncertainty  as  to  his  trial,  neither 
is  he  as  to  his  success.  However  sharp  the  struggle, 
by  faith  the  Christian  soldier  sees  the  Captain  of  our 
salvation  beckoning  to  him  from  the  skies,  and 
reaching  out  to  view  the  glorious  prize  ;  while  above 
the  din  of  the  conflict  is  heard  the  animating  voice, 
"  I  have  overcome  the  world  I "  "  I  have  given  you  the 
example,  and  secured  for  you  the  victory  ! "  "  Be  thon 
faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of 
life!"  By  this  means  is  the  child  of  God  strength- 


148  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

ened  with  might  in  the  inner  man.  Practically,  the 
Saviour  is  about  him  and  within  him.  It  is  not  so 
much  himself,  weak  as  he  is,  that  maintains  the  con 
test,  as  Christ  that  liveth  in  him,  —  not  so  much  his 
weakness  as  the  Redeemer's  almightiness. 

Thus  does  faith,  in  acting  as  the  medium  of  com 
munication  between  Christ  and  the  believer,  enable 
him  to  overcome  the  world.  It  tends  to  this  result, 
also,  by  leading  us  to  suppress  unholy  desires,  and 
put  away  the  remains  of  corruption  within.  But  for 
our  inward  depravity,  outward  temptation  would  be 
powerless.  Now  faith,  by  attaching  itself  to  the 
divine  promises  of  assistance  in  struggling  for  vic 
tory  over  our  corrupt  natures,  and  by  inducing  that 
love  which  leads  us  to  fear  lest  we  offend  God  by 
indulging  the  sordid  propensities,  tends  to  the  removal 
from  within  us  of  whatsoever  is  evil,  and  the  develop 
ment  of  whatsoever  is  good.  The  same  is  true  of 
Satan's  "  fiery  darts,"  which  are,  oftentimes,  nothing 
less  than  some  mighty  temptation  of  the  world, 
which  the  adversary  seizes  upon  for  our  destruction. 
Hence  faith  is  termed  a  "  shield "  by  which  we 
"  quench  "  those  darts  ;  and  few  men  have  been  bet 
ter  qualified  to  testify  of  its  efficacy,  from  personal 
experience,  than  was  one  who  has  said,  "  None  knows 
save  he  that  feels  it,  how  fiery  hot  the  darts  of  Satan 
are;  and  how,  when  darted,  they  kindle  upon  the 
flesh  and  unbelief ;  neither  can  any  know  the  power 
and  worth  of  faith  to  quench  them,  but  he  that  hath 
it,  and  hath  power  to  act  it."  * 

Moreover,  faith  secures  our  victory  over  the  evil 


*  John  Bunyan. 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  149 

influences  which  beset  us,  by  causing  the  world  to 
appear  as  it  really  is.  Oftentimes  it  appears  other 
wise.  It  assumes  an  undue  attractiveness  and  im 
portance  ;  and  then  we  are  tempted  to  love  it,  and 
grasp  it.  But  faith  strips  it  of  its  tinsel  and  glitter, 
and  exposes  its  deceitfulness  and  absolute  nothing 
ness.  When  the  eye  of  faith  is  undimmed,  and  the 
Christian,  from  his  proper  elevation,  looks  down 
upon  the  honors,  riches,  and  pleasures  of  earth,  how 
fade  they  into  insignificance !  "  To  him  who  has 
ascended  a  mountain,  the  inequalities  of  the  valley 
are  all  reduced  to  a  plain ;  the  men  who  are  seen 
here  and  there  hurrying  through  the  rounds  of  busi 
ness  and  pleasure,  appear  like  so  many  children,  and 
their  thousand  cares,  their  joys  and  sorrows,  seem 
like  so  many  childish  vanities.  So  the  Christian,  in 
the  exercise  of  faith,  looks  upon  those  things  which 
formerly  engaged  his  attention  with  comparative  in 
difference.  Riches,  honors,  pleasures,  all  appear  un 
worthy  of  supreme  regard;  the  elevations  which  men 
toil  to  reach,  look  petty  and  insignificant ;  the  anxie 
ties  and  fears  with  which  they  distress  themselves, 
seem  unworthy  of  one  in  whose  behalf  God  himself 
is  enlisted,  and  who  has  in  sure  reversion  an  eternal 
weight  of  glory." 

So  also  does  it  effect  this  by  bringing  into  close 
proximity  the  world  to  come.  Heaven  is  near  when 
we  have  strong  faith.  This  telescope  of  the  soul 
presents  our  blessed  inheritance  with  wonderful  dis 
tinctness.  We  seem  verily  to  hear  the  "  echoes  of  its 
rapturous  songs ; "  and  are  ravished  at  beholding  the 
glories  of  the  "  King  Immortal,"  —  the  majesty  of 
his  person,  and  the  magnificence  of  his  retinue,  the 
13* 


150  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

myriads  of  joyful,  shining  ones  that  bask  in  eternal 
light,  and  the  unfading  crowns,  and  harps  of  gold, 
and  surpassing  glory,  that  shall  be  ours  when  we 
join  the  blessed  company. 

What  becomes  of  earth  when  we  have  such  a 
view  of  heaven  ?  Does  it  longer  fill  the  mind,  and 
draw  upon  the  affections  ?  Glowworms  are  bright 
in  the  absence  of  the  sun;  but  when  the  great 
luminary  lifts  himself  into  view,  glowworms,  and 
moon,  and  stars  disappear !  So  does  our  future  glo 
rious  abode,  as  seen  by  the  eye  of  faith,  shine  into 
darkness  ah1  the  brightest  objects  of  sense.  Living 
in  the  world,  by  faith  we  live  above  the  world.  "We 
trample  it  beneath  our  feet.  We  are  neither  elated 
by  its  prosperity,  nor  crushed  by  its  adversity. 
Smiles,  caresses,  pleasures,  —  perils,  persecutions, 
sword,  nakedness,  —  none  of  these  things  move  us, 
trusting  in  the  Lord,  and  dwelling  in  perpetual 
light:  — 

"  As  some  tall  cliff,  that  rears  its  awful  form, 
Swells  from  the  vale  and  midway  leaves  the  storm,  — 
Though  round  its  breast  the  rolling  clouds  are  spread, 
Eternal  sunshine  settles  on  its  head." 

We  have  now  developed  the  nature,  and  traced 
some  of  the  effects  of  that  "faith  in  God"  which 
constituted  a  peculiar  feature  in  the  piety  of  primi 
tive  times. 

Does  the  faith  which  now  prevails  answer  to  this 
Scriptural  standard  ?  Does  it  give  reality  to  unseen 
things  ?  Does  it  answer  to  the  "  substance  "  of  those 
things,  and  cause  them  powerfully  to  influence  us,  as 
if  seen  by  the  natural  eyes  ?  Is  it  the  source  of  hap 
piness  to  God's  children  ?  Are  they  remarkable,  in 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  151 

any  degree,  for  their  constant  joy  and  rejoicing  in  the 
Lord  ?  Does  it  effect  their  sanctification  ?  Does  it 
lead  them  to  "  put  off  the  old  man  with  his  deeds, 
and  put  on  the  new  man,  which  is  renewed  in 
knowledge  after  the  image  of  him  who  created  him?" 
Does  it  impart  Christian  boldness  ?  —  a  heroism  that 
falters  not  before  any  kind  or  amount  of  opposition 
encountered  in  leading  a  life  of  eminent  holiness? 
Does  it  also  impart  activity  and  strength  ?  Is  there 
vigor  and  manliness  in  Christian  character,  gener 
ally  ?  And,  finally,  does  it  give  us  the  victory  over  the 
world  ?  Is  it  "  an  energizing,  all-conquering  principle, 
actually  subordinating  earthly  things  to  heavenly?" 
If  the  faith  that  now  obtains  answers  to  this  descrip 
tion,  then  is  it  a  scriptural  faith.  If  not,  then  is  it 
defective.  Does  it  answer  to  this  description  ? 

The  question  scarcely  needs  a  formal  answer. 
Who  can  take  an  intelligent  view  of  the  churches 
as  they  exist,  and  avoid  the  painful  conviction  that 
such  a  faith,  to  say  the  very  least,  is  the  exception, 
not  the  rule  ? 

The  narrow  scale  upon  which  our '  missionary 
enterprises  are  prosecuted,  the  low  state  of  piety  in 
the  churches,  and  the  limited  accessions  to  their 
numbers,  the  want  of  simplicity  of  purpose,  and  of 
harmonious  cooperation  ;  the  lack  of  personal  conse 
cration,  and  of  self-denial  for  Christ ;  in  a  word,  the 
inactivity  of  Christians  in  things  spiritual,  and  their 
absorbing  interest  in  things  temporal,  too  plainly  jus 
tify,  as  applicable  to  the  followers  of  Christ  in  our 
day,  his  rebuke  to  one  of  old :  "  O  thou  of  little 
faith,  wherefore  didst  thou  doubt  ?  " 


152  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

There  is  a  vast  deal  of  scepticism  in  the  church. 
We  do  not  mean  theoretical  merely,  but  practical 
and  real ;  for  it  often  occurs  that  our  practice  belies 
our  theory.  Professedly,  we  believe  in  prayer,  but 
how  much  of  narrowness  and  doubtfulness  is  there 
in  our  petitions,  which  we  may  imagine  bespeaks 
humility,  but  which,  in  truth,  betrays  our  "  contempt 
uous  unbelief ! "  How  many  fathers  and  mothers 
would  be  taken  by  surprise,  should  God  suddenly 
come  and  convert  their  children,  for  whose  conver 
sion  they  have  offered  so  many  prayers !  And  how 
frequently  are  members  of  our  churches,  who  hav& 
been  heard  to  pray,  in  every  petition  which  they 
have  publicly  offered  for  years,  that  God  would  re 
vive  his  work,  found  lifting  up  their  hands  in  aston 
ishment,  when  once  the  shower  of  divine  grace 
descends !  In  such  cases,  what  is  the  conclusion  ? 
Certainly  this ;  they  did  not  expect  that  their  prayers 
would  be  answered.  From  the  duty  of  prayer,  turn 
to  that  of  giving  the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  In  the 
ory,  we  believe  that  the  nations  of  the  earth  are 
Christ's ;  and  that  they  are  to  be  saved  through  the 
gospel. 

But  with  regard  to  the  whole  matter  of  missions, 
how  much  is  there  of  doubt  and  misgiving!  The 
prevalence  of  scepticism  in  the  church  in  respect  to 
the  facts  and  principles  on  which  the  work  of  mis 
sions  proceeds,  as  one  has  ably  maintained,  is  the 
main  hindrance  to  the  immediate  evangelization  of 
the  world.*  "  The  last  hope  of  Satan,"  it  is  justly 


*  See  Prelim.  Essay  to  "  Foster  on  Missions,"  by  Rev.  J.  P 
Thompson. 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  153 

added,  "  is  in  the  timidity  and  doubtfulness  of  the 
church.  He  scatters  distrust  and  fear  among  God's 
people.  They  hesitate,  they  fall  back.  Their  scepti 
cism  checks  the  auspicious  onset,  prolongs  the  reign 
of  darkness,  abandons  the  world  to  guilt  and  wretch 
edness  ;  and  while  God  would  give  a  triumph  to 
heaven  and  a  millennium  to  earth,  this  gives  a  jubi 
lee  to  hell !  "  But  why  need  we  particularize  ?  In 
what  department  of  Christian  duty  is  there  not  ap 
parent  a  want  of  simple,  childlike  confidence  in 
God,  and  earnest  devotedness  to  the  work  of  Christ's 
kingdom,  as  seen  in  primitive  times  ? 

The  possession  of  such  a  faith  is  entirely  practicable. 
There  is  nothing  to  sustain  the  too  prevalent  opin 
ion  that  the  faith  of  the  early  Christians  is  not  to  be 
expected  in  our  day,  —  that  Christ's  simple  promise 
—  the  staff  on  which  leaned  the  primitive  saints  —  is 
now  obsolete  or  insufficient ;  a  fitting  remembrancer 
of  other  days,  but  not  to  be  solely  relied  upon  in  the 
times  in  which  we  live.  To  us,  as  well  as  to  those 
of  any  age,  are  all  the  promises  "  yea  and  amen  in 
Christ  Jesus  ; "  and  it  is  the  privilege  of  every  disci 
ple  so  to  interpret  them,  and  act  upon  them. 

The  possession  of  such  a  faith  is  a  cardinal  necessity 
of  any  age.  It  was  never  more  needful  than  at  the 
present  moment.  We  are  too  much  inclined  to  con 
sider  the  necessity  of  the  faith  of  the  martyr  age  as 
now  passed.  That  in  other  days  a  heroic,  self-forget 
ful  assurance  was  requisite,  is  readily  perceived  ;  but 
we  secretly  excuse  ourselves  from  efforts  towards  its 


154  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

attainment,  from  an  apprehension  that  it  is  not  now 
required. 

What  is  there  to  justify  this  conclusion  ?  Is  not 
the  "  flesh  "  just  as  inimical  to  the  "  Spirit "  now,  as 
in  the  days  when  the  apostle  described  its  warrings 
against  the  gracious  principle  within  ?  Is  Satan  less 
the  Christian's  adversary  now  than  in  other  days  ? 
Is  he  less  malignant,  —  less  artful,  —  less  assiduous 
in  practising  his  "  devices  ?  "  And  the  influence  of 
surrounding  objects, — is  it  less  liable  to  contaminate 
and  destroy?  Has  human  nature  become  less  selfish 
and  depraved?  Have  ungodly  men  ceased  their  op 
position  to  Christ,  and  his  doctrines,  and  his  disci 
ples  ?  Has  the  offence  of  the  cross  ceased  ? 

'  Is  this  vile  world  a  friend  to  grace, 
To  help  us  on  to  God  ? ' 

Let  it  not  be  believed.  It  is  not  the  world  that 
has  become  modified  in  favor  of  the  church  ;  but  the 
church  in  favor  of  the  world.  Christian  character 
assumes  a  less  positive  and  decided  stamp.  The 
same  unworldliness  'on  the  part  of  Christ's  followers, 
—  the  same  degree  of  faithfulness  and  holy  living,  — 
would  provoke  as  great  opposition  now  as  was  man 
ifested  in  earlier  times ;  though  the  form  in  which 
that  opposition  would  appear  might  not  be  the  same. 
Besides  this,  there  are  the  same  temptations  now  as 
ever  before,  —  the  same  "  lust  of  the  flesh,"  and 
"  lust  of  the  eyes,"  and  "  pride  of  life,"  —  the  same 
fear  of  man  which  bringeth  a  snare ;  and  the  same 
corrupt  maxims  in  moral,  social,  commercial,  and 
political  life.  Who  will  allege,  then,  that  primitive 
faith  is  not  a  requisite  of  our  times  ? 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  155 

We  have  seen,  in  a  previous  chapter,  that  there  is 
now  a  fearful  absence  of  self-denial  for  Christ.  But 
courage  is  required  to  practise  this  virtue,  —  a  cour 
age  kindred  to  that  evinced  in  the  age  of  persecu 
tions.  And  to  impart  this  courage,  faith  is  neces 
sary.  Without  it  the  individual  falters  at  the  thought 
of  breasting  the  tide  of  worldliness,  and  appearing 
"  singular "  among  men  for  his  strict  adherence  to 
gospel  principles. 

As  we  have  said,  substantially,  of  self-denial,  so 
we  now  say  of  faith  ;  to  overcome  the  world,  —  to  rise 
above  its  temptations,  to  eschew  its  false  maxims,  to 
meet  its  hatred  and  contempt  for  Christ's  sake,  and 
to  crucify  the  flesh,  with  its  affections  and  lusts,  and 
live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly  in  the  midst  of  a 
wicked  and  perverse  generation,  —  to  do  this,  requires 
a  faith  precisely  the  same  in  nature,  and  oftentimes  in 
degree^  with  that  possessed  by  the  earlier  Christians, 
who  maintained  their  religion  at  the  cost  of  their 
lives.  For  the  want  of  it  the  type  of  piety  has  sadly 
deteriorated,  —  the  followers  of  Christ  becoming  con 
formed  to  the  world,  and  subject  to  its  dictation  as 
respects  their  rules  and  principles  of  life.  O  for  the 
return  of  a  primitive  faith !  Where  are  the  Noahs, 
the  Abrahams,  the  Nehemiahs,  the  Daniels,  the  Pauls 
of  other  days?  Where  a  Moses,  —  esteeming  the 
reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures 
of  Egypt?  Where  are  the  women  who  shall  witness 
for  Christ  as  in  the  martyr  age?  who  will  insist,  —  no 
matter  with  how  much  womanly  dignity  and  discre 
tion, —  but  who  will  insist  that  Christianity  shall 
control  the  fashions,  and  not  the  fashions  Chris 
tianity.  Women  have  been  willing  to  die  for  Christ: 


156  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

who  now  will  be  willing  to  live  for  him ;  so  that 
fashions  and  fashionable  follies  shall  no  longer  drain 
the  treasuries  of  wealth,  till  nothing  is  left  for  the 
conversion  of  the  world  ? 

We  repeat  it;  a  more  Scriptural  faith  must  prevail 
among  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  before  the  glories  of  the 
millennium  shall  appear.  Let  earnest  and  continu 
ous  efforts  be  made,  therefore,  in  this  direction.  Let 
the  ministers  of  Christ  hold  up  in  contrast  the  present 
with  the  faith  of  earlier  days.  Let  the  members  of 
the  churches  use  the  appointed  means  for  a  large 
increase  of  this  heavenly  grace. 

It  may  be  increased.  Paul  has  hope  of  his  breth 
ren  when  " their  faith  is  increased"  Is  it  asked. 
How  shall  its  growth  be  secured  ?  We  answer ;  not 
without  prayer.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  the  law  obtains, 
"  Seek  and  ye  shall  find;"  "ask  and  it  shall  be  given 
unto  you."  But  something  besides  prayer  is  neces 
sary.  It  must  be  sought  by  giving'  ourselves  ivholly 
to  the  Lord,  to  do  and  suffer  his  will  without  reserve. 
In  proportion  as  we  consecrate  ourselves  to  God,  and 
live  near  unto  him,  shall  we  have  confidence  in  him. 

Our  faith  grows  exceedingly,  by  the  constant  and 
careful  study  of  Gods  Word.  Revelation  is  the  basis 
of  faith.  That  is  a  beautiful  conception  of  the  sacred 
poet,  —  the  placing  beneath  the  arm  of  faith  the  vol 
ume  of  inspiration :  — 

"  And  faith  stands  leaning  on  his  word" 

Christian  confidence  is  weak  and  tremulous  because 
it  is  not,  by  much  devout  meditation,  made  to  settle 
and  rest  firmly  upon  the  divine  promises.  Replete 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  157 

as  are  the  Scriptures  with  precisely  such  truths  as 
are  adapted  to  support  and  strengthen  our  faith,  by 
becoming,  to  a  greater  extent,  its  uniform  and  prayer 
ful  students,  more  of  vigor  and  stability  cannot  but 
be  given  to  this  heavenly  grace. 

Faith  is  also  increased  by  its  exercise.  It  is  said 
that  the  surest  remedy  for  short-sightedness,  is  the 
continued  practice  of  endeavoring,  by  a  steady  effort 
of  the  eye,  to  get  a  sight  of  objects  at  a  distance. 
The  practised  eye  of  him  who  has  long  been  wont 
to  gaze  upon  the  heavens  and  count  the  stars,  dis 
covers  new  bodies  the  more  it  stretches  forth  its  vis 
ion  to  detect  them,  until  thousands  are  seen  which 
the  untrained  eye  of  other  men  cannot  behold.  Even 
so  it  is  of  the  eye  of  faith.  Its  capacity  is  enlarged 
by  use.  Every  exercise,  on  the  part  of  the  believer, 
of  a  far-reaching  faith,  prepares  him  the  better  for  its 
subsequent  exercise. 

Or,  to  use  a  different  and  borrowed  illustration, 
"  As  the  earthly  warrior  is  not  made  such  by  the 
holiday  parade  merely,  the  epaulette,  and  the  nod 
ding  plume,  and  the  fluttering  of  silken  standards, 
but  by  the  dust  and  toil  of  the  actual  field,  and  by 
the  agony  of  the  strife  and  the  death-grapple  ;  so  the 
heroes  of  faith  become  such,  not  by  mere  profession, 
or  large  knowledge,  or  solemn  rite,  but  by  fighting 
manfully  the  good  fight  of  faith,  armed  with  the 
whole  armor  of*  God,  and  resisting  in  the  name  and 
strength  of  the  Captain  of  their  salvation,  sin  unto 
the  death." 

By  these,  and  by  all  other  means,  let  Christians 
strive  to  go  from  strength  to  strength  in  this  grace, 
walking  "  in  the  steps  of  that  faith  of  our  father 
14 


158  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

Abraham."  And  when  this  shall  be  generally  found 
true  of  Christ's  followers ;  when  they  shall  come  to 
believe  what  God  has  spoken,  and  simply  because  he 
has  spoken  it ;  when  they  shall  fall  back  upon  the 
divine  promises,  and  ceasing  from  man,  hang  their 
hopes  upon  the  pillars  of  the  everlasting  throne; 
when,  in  a  word,  they  are  become  "  strong  in  faith," 
and  through  its  victories  have  overcome  the  world, 
then  what  beauty  and  power  shall  invest  our  holy 
religion !  What  an  earthly  embodiment  of  heavenly 
perfections!  What  love  and  purity  and  zeal  and 
godliness  !  Blessed  with  spiritual  light  and  life,  — 
rooted  and  grounded  in  the  faith,  —  cleansed  from 
inward  corruption,  —  Christians  shall  no  more  "  live 
at  this  poor  dying  rate,"  but,  growing  in  grace  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  God,  attain  unto  the  stature  of 
perfect  men  in  Christ  Jesus.  Then  shall  they  think 
less  of  earth  and  more  of  heaven ;  less  of  their  own 
ease,  or  honors,  or  misfortunes,  and  more  of  the 
interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Then  the 
channels  of  Christian  benevolence  shall  be  swollen 
with  the  contributions  of  cheerful  givers ;  because, 
taking  hold  upon  the  pledge  of  Jehovah,  that  those 
that  wait .  upon  the  Lord  shall  not  want  any  good 
thing,  and  that  seeking  first  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  his  righteousness  all  other  things  shall  be  added, 
the  saints  of  the  Most  High  will  seek  to  accumulate 
but  that  they  may  have  wherewith  to  feed  the  hun 
gry,  clothe  the  naked,  and  give  the  gospel  to  the  des 
titute.  Then,  what  answers  to  prayer  !  Instead  of 
asking  "  amiss,"  and  receiving  not,  with  this  firm 
assurance  in  the  veracity  of  the  Promiser,  we  should 
"  ask  in  faith,  nothing  wavering ; "  and  find  fulfilled 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  159 

the  promise,  "  Whatsoever  ye  ask,  in  prayer,  believ 
ing,  ye  shall  receive." 

And  then  what  unremitted  exertion  to  save  dying 
men !  How  many  of  the  members  of  the  churches 
are  now  living,  year  after  year,  with  almost  no  direct 
efforts  to  save  souls.  How  many  children  of  pro 
fessedly  pious  parents  have  yet  to  be  conversed  and 
prayed  with  by  those  parents  for  the  first  time  !  How 
many  domestics  and  clerks  and  apprentices  in  the 
employ  of  Christian  professors,  are  altogether  un 
warned  and  uninstructed  in  religion !  How  few  of 
those  who  bear  the  name  of  Christ,  as  they  meet 
and  mingle  with  the  unconverted  are  pained  at  their 
guilt  and  danger,  and  watching  and  laboring  for 
their  salvation !  And  why  ?  Because  the  truths  of 
religion  are  dimly  perceived ;  and  cannot,  therefore, 
affect  the  mind  and  incite  to  action. 

O,  were  we  to  stand,  for  one  brief  hour,  at  the 
verge  of  the  pit,  where 

"  There  are  groans  that  end  not,  and  sighs 
That  always  sigh,  and  tears  that  ever  weep, 
And  ever  fall,  but  not  in  mercy's  sight," 

would  it  be  possible  for  us  to  remain  unmoved  ? 

Now  a  faith  like  that  described  would  serve  in 
room  of  the  literal  facts.  It  would  give  to  things 
unseen  all  the  freshness  and  reality  which  attach  to 
objects  seen  with  the  natural  eye.  Possessed  of  this 
faith,  the  bliss  of  heaven,  the  prisonhouse  of  hell, 
the  judgment  throne,  all  the  great  facts  of  a  future 
just  before  us,  would  seem  like  facts,  and  like  them 
impel  to  action.  Under  its  influence  the  husband 
and  parent  would  ponder  in  anticipation,  the  trial  at 


160  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

the  last  great  day,  of  a  companion  or  child,  now  out 
of  Christ,  and  the  awful  sentence  of  "  depart,  ye 
cursed ; "  and  the  actual  sight  could  not  affect  him 
more.  He  would  weep  and  pray ;  he  would  exhort 
and  entreat ;  he  would  not,  he  could  not  rest  until 
the  loved  object  had  fled  for  refuge  to  Christ. 

And  so  with  regard  to  every  thing  connected  with 
religion.  We  do  not  act  until  we  feel,  and  we  can 
not  feel  until  we  believe.  A  pusillanimous  and  inert 
faith  underlies  all  this  inactivity  and  unconcern,  on 
the  part  of  Christians,  touching  the  perishing  condi 
tion  of  dying  men  around  them.  The  remedy  for 
this,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  for  all  the  evils  that 
afflict  the  church  of  Christ,  is  therefore  obvious.  It 
is  an  enlarged  and  vigorous  faith.  We  must  put 
away  our  distrust.  O  this  wicked  unbelief  which  is 
our  besetting  sin ! 

If  the  Roman  army  lost  a  single  victory  because 
the  numerous  mice  that  infested  the  country  had 
gnawed  their  bowstrings,  how  many  a  victory  has 
been  lost  by  the  soldiers  of  the  cross  because  the 
sinews  of  their  spiritual  strength  had  been  cut  by 
the  sins  of  unbelief? 

"  Ah,  my  friends,"  exclaimed  the  venerable  Miller, 
"  the  lack  of  faith  is  the  great,  crying  sin,  not  of  an 
ungodly  world  only,  but  eminently  of  Christians.  It 
is  the  littleness  of  our  faith  which  makes  us  dwarfs 
in  spiritual  stature ;  cowards  in  conflict  and  in  enter 
prise  ;  narrow-minded  in  our  views  and  plans  of 
duty ;  and  niggards  in  sacrifice  and  in  contribution 
to  the  cause  of  Christ,  Yes,  it  is  the  sin  and  the 
misery  even  of  the  sincere  disciples  of  Christ,  that 
the  promises  of  God  have  so  little  daily  influence  on 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  161 

their  practical  habits.  Christians!  be  afraid  of  un 
belief;  be  ashamed  of  unbelief;  only  believe,  and 
act  as  if  you  believed ;  and  you  shall  see  the  salva 
tion  of  God."* 

Before  dismissing  this  subject,  dear  reader,  make 
it  a  matter  of  personal  application.  Propose  to  your 
self  such  questions  as  these  :  '  Do  I  possess  a  Scrip 
tural  faith  ?  '  'Is  mine  a  faith  that  works  by  love, 
and  purifies  the  heart,  and  overcomes  the  world  ? ' 
'  Does  it  govern  my  affections,  and  direct  my  will, 
and  rule  my  conduct,  and  lead  me  to  live  as  a  pilgrim 
and  stranger  upon  earth  ?  '  Be  entreated  to  seek  the 
larger  acquisition  of  such  a  faith.  Bring  it  into  daily 
exercise ;  foster  its  development ;  and  often  present 
yourself  at  the  Saviour's  feet  with  the  earnest  sup 
plication,  "  Increase  my  faith  !  " 


*  Kcv.   Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.,  in   sermon  at  the   26th  Anni 
versary  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 

Missions. 

14* 


CHAPTER     VI. 


FIFTH    GRAND    DEFECT  —  A    WANT    OF    EARNESTNESS. 

Xavier's  Night  Vision. —  The  earnest  Man.  —  The  earnest  Christian. — 
Christ  an  Example  of  Earnestness.  —  Paul.  —  The  Order  of  the  Jesu 
its. —  The  "  United  Brethren."  —  The  Achievements  of  Earnestness.  — 
To  what  Extent  it  obtains  among  Christians  in  this  Age.  —  Necessity 
of  Increase.  —  In  the  Ministry.  —  Power  of  Earnestness.  —  Want  of  it 
acknowledged.  —  John  Welch.  —  John  Knox.  —  Earnest  Laymen  re 
quired.  —  Regard  for  Themselves  requires  it.  —  Suitable  Care  for 
Others.  —  The  Spirit  of  the  Age  makes  this  essential.  —  Contrast  be 
tween  Earnestness  of  the  World  and  the  Church.  —  Vigor  within  nec 
essary  to  resent  Evils  from  without. — Ancient  Clmrch;  how  cor 
rupted.  —  Present  Danger  from  Wickedness  in  High  Places,  —  from 
Romanism  and  from  Formalism.  —  Deterioration  already  commenced. 
—  Address  to  the  Reader. 

WHEN  Xavier  was  preparing  to  go  forth  upon  his 
mission  through  the  East,  his  friend  Rodriguez,  who 
shared  his  apartment  in  the  Hospital  at  Rome,  was 
awakened  in  the  night  by  his  earnest  exclamations. 
He  heard  him  tossing  restlessly  on  his  couch ;  and 
at  times  there  came  from  the  lips  of  the  sleeping 
man  the  agitated  appeal,  "  Yet  more,  O  my  God! 
yet  more ! " 

It  was  not  until  many  months  afterwards,  that  he 
revealed  the  vision.  He  had  seen  in  his  slumber  the 
wild  and  terrible  future  of  his  career  spread  out 
before  him.  There  were  barbarous  regions,  islands, 

(162) 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  163 

and  continents,  and  mighty  empires  which  he  was  to 
win  to  his  faith.  Storms,  indeed,  swept  around 
them,  and  hunger  and  thirst  were  everywhere,  and 
death  in  many  a  fearful  form;  yet  he  shrank  not 
back.  He  was  willing  to  dare  the  peril,  if  he  could 
but  win  the  prize.  Nay,  he  yearned  for  still  wider 
fields  of  labor,  and  with  an  absorbing  passion,  that 
filled  every  faculty,  and  haunted  him  even  in  his 
slumber,  he  exclaimed,  "  Yet  more,  O  my  God!  yet 
more  !  "  *  The  incident  furnishes  a  fine  illustration 
of  Christian  earnestness. 

Earnestness  is  ardor  or  zeal  in  pursuit  of  any 
object.  The  earnest  man  is  full  of  longing  desire ; 
he  is  warmly  engaged,  and  eager  to  obtain  that 
which  he  seeks.  He  is  ever  urging  and  pressing 
toward  it,  and  cannot  rest  satisfied  so  long  as  he 
falls  short  of  it.  The  earnest  man  is  a  man  of 
courage,  and  faith,  and  patience,  and  constancy. 
He  is  not  easily  diverted  from  his  purpose.  Having 
determined  his  end,  and  the  means  of  accomplishing 
it,  he  can  neither  be  drawn  nor  driven  aside.  On, 
on  he  presses,  yearning  and  struggling  still,  till  that 
end  is  attained. 

The  earnest  Christian  is  one  who  is  ardently  in 
cited,  and  strongly  determined  about  the  things  of 
godliness.  Thei;e  is  force  in  his  character,  and  life 
and  fire.  He  is  not  a  sluggish,  indolent  Christian ; 
but  is  impelled  by  the  energies  of  a  wakeful,  active 
mind.  He  stands  firmly  by  his  principles,  and  bat 
tles  dauntlessly  for  God  and  the  truth.  He  is  power 
fully  under  the  influence  of  religious  things,  and  is 

*  See  Kip's  Conflicts  of  Christianity,  pp.  185   186. 


164  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

animated  and  borne  onward  by  intense  zeal  for  the 
interests  of  Christ's  kingdom.  Earnestness,  in  the 
Christian,  is,  therefore,  the  prime  element  of  success. 
Destitute  of  this,  what  is  he  ?  what  does  he  accom 
plish  ?  The  principles  of  religion  do  not  take  strong 
hold  upon  him,  and  he  has  little  courage  to  defend 
them,  and  still  less  disposition  to  practise  them, 
when  it  is  at  the  cost  of  any  considerable  sacrifice. 
His  religion  is  of  a  weak,  negative  character ;  it  is 
puny,  sickly,  lifeless,  and  inoperative.  And  this  ele 
ment  of  character  is  everywhere  recognized  in  the 
Scriptures,  as  thus  essential  to  success. 

Hence  we  are  earnestly  to  contend  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints.  We  are  to  covet 
earnestly  the  best  gifts ;  and  to  do  with  our  might 
what  our  hands  find  to  do.  Without  it  prayer  avails 
not.  The  prophet  "prayed  earnestly  that  it  might 
not  rain,"  and  it  rained  not  for  the  space  of  three 
years  and  six  months.  Jacob  wrestled  with  the 
Angel ;  and  the  disciples  made  prayer  "  without 
ceasing,"  or  instant  and  earnest  prayer,  as  it  reads 
in  the  margin,  for  imprisoned  Peter,  who  was  forth 
with  delivered  by  the  angel.  And  it  is  the  fervent 
prayer  of  the  righteous  that  is  effectual  and  avails 
much. 

How  bright  an  example  of  earnestness  in  religion 
is  furnished  us  in  the  life  of  Christ !  It  marked  his 
career  from  Nazareth  to  the  Cross.  '  His  zeal  for  his 
Father's  house  devoured  him.'  Like  a  sacred  flame 
glowing  in  his  bosom,  it  preyed  upon  his  spirits. 
His  was  a  life  of  unceasing  and  untiring  activity. 
We  always  find  him,  look  where  we  will,  "  working, 
preaching,  praying,  or  weeping,  but  never  loitering." 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  165 

He  was  intent  on  the  object  that  filled  his  eye,  his 
heart,  his  hands,  —  the  saving  of  souls.  His  meat 
and  his  drink  was  to  do  his  Father's  will.  His 
relaxation  was  devotion ;  and  though  "  all  the  fulness 
and  fire  of  the  passions  dwelt  in  him,  never  did  he 
waste  a  single  feeling,  but  devoted  the  whole  as  con 
secrated  fuel  for  offering  up  the  great  sacrifice  in 
which  his  life  was  consumed,  and  by  which  the 
world  might  be  saved !  "  How  careful  is  he  to  make 
the  most  of  every  moment !  The  disciples  are  gone 
away  to  the  city  to  buy  provision  ;  but  though  hungry 
and  thirsty,  he  eagerly  seizes  upon  the  fragment  of 
time,  and  instructs  and  enlightens  and  saves  the 
woman  of  Samaria.  He  enters  the  humble  and 
quiet  mansion  of  his  favorite  friends  in  Bethany.  Is 
it  not  to  seek  a  little  repose  after  so  much  exhausting 
toil  ?  Will  he  not  rest,  at  least,  until  the  body  is 
refreshed  by  food  ?  Instead  of  this,  on  entering  the 
house,  he  at  once  enters  upon  "  his  Master's  business." 
From  the  posture  of  Mary,  sitting  as  a  pupil  at  his 
feet,  and  listening  to  his  words,  as  well  as  from  his 
gentle  reproof  of  Martha,  for  her  excess  of  anxiety 
to  entertain  liberally  her  Lord,  it  is  obvious  that  he 
had  immediately  before  the  repast,  engaged  in  the 
work  of  carefully  unfolding  and  illustrating  some 
great  truth  of  his  holy  religion. 

And  so  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  He  is  pos 
sessed  with  the  magnitude  of  his  task ;  he  is  eager 
for  its  accomplishment.  "  I  have  a  baptism  to  be 
baptized  with,"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  how  am  I  strait 
ened  till  it  is  accomplished."  It  has  been  remarked 
of  him,  that  his  eagerness  for  man's  salvation  was 
such  that  the  guilty  heart  of  the  traitor  was  too  slow 


166  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

in  its  purpose  for  his  love,  and  he  quickened  the 
movements  of  Judas  by  those  memorable  words, 
"  What  thou  doest,  do  quickly."  He  made  haste  to 
the  cross.  He  was  almost  impatient  for  the  hour 
of  sacrifice.  He  could  brook  no  delay  in  love's  re 
deeming  work.  O  what  an  example  of  earnestness 
in  regard  to  the  things  of  eternity ! 

And  next  in  brightness  to  the  example  of  our  Lord, 
stands  that  of  his  servant  Paul.  His  conversion  and 
history  seem  "  designed  to  teach  us  what  energy  may 
be  compressed  into  one  human  heart,  to  be  developed 
in  one  single  life."  So  earnest  was  he  in  the  work 
of  saving  men,  that  he  indited  to  them  his  epistles 
while  "weeping;"  and  'ceased  not  to  warn  every 
one,  night  and  day,  with  tears.'  He  ceased  not ;  he 
did  it  night  and  day ;  and  he  did  it'  with  tears  !  And, 
testifying  of  himself,  he  declares,  "  For  me  to  live  is 
Christ."  What  an  epitome  of  his  whole  character 
and  life ;  perhaps  best  paraphrased  by  another  thus : 
"  Christ  is  my  life :  apart  from  him  and  his  work  I 
seem  to  have  no  separate  existence :  I  have  grown 
into  that  one  object." 

At  Corinth,  waiting  for  the  coming  of  Silas  and 
Timotheus,  he  "  was  pressed  in  the  spirit,  and  testi 
fied  that  Jesus  was  Christ."  At  Athens,  too,  he 
waited  for  them ;  and  in  the  interim,  what  are  his 
thoughts  and  feelings,  and  in  what  do  we  find  him 
engaged  ?  He  had  been  familiar  with  the  fame  of 
that  city  ;  but  this,  so  far  as  we  know,  was  the  first 
time  he  had  ever  visited  it.  Bred  in  a  city  whose 
"  schools  rivalled  those  of  Athens,"  read  in  the  Gre 
cian  classics,  he  would  surely  be  both  qualified  and 
inclined  to  examine  its  things  of  beauty  and  renown 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  167 

with  his  own  eyes.  He  might  now  for  the  first,  per 
haps  for  the  last  time,  behold  those  schools,  and 
academic  groves,  and  works  of  art,  which  were,  and 
in  part  still  are,  the  admiration  of  the  world.  But 
did  he  yield  to  a  most  natural  inclination  ?  Did  he 
suffer  any  of  these  things  to  absorb,  even  for  a  day, 
his  time  and  attention  ?  A  few  words  tell  the  whole 
story :  "  Now  while  Paul  waited  for  them  at  Athens, 
his  spirit  was  stirred  within  him  when  he  saw  the 
city  wholly  given  to  idolatry :  therefore  disputed  he 
in  the  synagogue  with  the  Jews,  —  and  in  the  mar 
ket,  daily  with  them  that  met  him."  Ah !  there  he 
is  ;  that  is  his  employment  for  a  few  "  leisure  hours," 
as  most  men  would  have  called  them ;  arguing,  in 
structing,  exhorting,  with  the  object  of  saving  souls! 
And  thus  it  was  everywhere.  His  self-consuming 
zeal  forbade  him  to  rest  satisfied.  He  counted  noth 
ing  gained  till  all  was  gained.  He  still  cried,  "  Yet 
more  !  O  my  God,  yet  MORE  ! "  or,  in  his  own  lan 
guage,  "  having  hope  .  .  .  that  we  shall  be  enlarged 
by  you  according  to  our  rule  abundantly,  to  preach 
the  gospel  in  the  regions  beyond  you."  His  soul 
was  on  fire  when  he  thought  of  the  cross  and  of  a 
dying  world.  He  would  not,  he  could  not  refrain 
from  effort.  Ease  might  offer  him  indulgence; 
wealth  might  display  her  bribes;  pleasure  might 
exhibit  her  charms ;  persecution  might  bring  out  and 
spread  in  his  path  a  fearful  array  of  scourges,  and 
chains,  and  axes ;  but  he  looked  at  the  cross,  and 
beholding  the  Son  of  God  suspended  there,  he  armed 
himself,  "likewise,  with  the  same  mind."  He  looked 
around  and  he  saw  the  assembled  church  of  Jesus 
Christ  urging  him,  for  the  glory  of  the  cross,  and  for 


168  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

perishing  humanity,  to  go  forward.  He  looked  above, 
and  saw  a  great  "  cloud  of  witnesses  "  bending  with 
intent  interest  from  their  blessed  seats ;  and  beyond 
and  above  them  all,  he  saw  the  throne  of  the  Lamb 
and  him  that  sat  upon  it,  and  in  his  extended  hand 
a  glorious  crown  of  life ;  and  thus  impelled  he  led 
the  van  of  the  army  of  the  cross,  and  stormed  the 
strong-holds  of  Satan  and  sin,  exulting,  with  the  song 
of  a  Christian  warrior,  "  Now  thanks  be  unto  God, 
who  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in  every  place  ! " 

Others  of  primitive  times  might  be  instanced  as 
examples  of  earnestness  in  Christ's  service ;  for  who 
has  failed  to  remark  the  absolute,  vigorous  character 
of  the  early  piety,  and  the  absorbing,  all-controlling 
passion  for  saving  souls,  which  seemed  to  be  gener 
ally  possessed  ?  And  to  this  is  unquestionably  attrib 
utable,  to  a  great  extent,  the  rapid  spread  of  Chris 
tianity  in  the  first  few  centuries. 

Approaching  our  own  times,  we  meet  with  a  re 
markable  class  of  men  —  the  order  of  Jesuits  —  whose 
entire  history  is  a  striking  commentary  upon  the  sub 
ject  under  consideration.  It  was  an  apparently  un 
important  transaction,  the  taking  of  a  solemn  vow  at 
the  midnight  hour,  by  Ignatius  Loyola  and  his  few 
companions,  in  the  chapel  of  the  abbey  of  Mont- 
martre  near  Paris,  a  little  more  than  three  centuries 
ago,  —  by  which  vow  they  bound  themselves  to  re 
nounce  the  world  for  the  purpose  of  preaching  the 
gospel.  But  who  can  tell  how  deeply  the  plans  and 
efforts  of  those  seven  poor  students  and  their  succes 
sors  have  affected  the  history,  and  shall  yet  affect  the 
destiny  of  Europe,  and  Asia,  and  Africa,  and  Amer 
ica  ?  What  spot  upon  the  world  has  not  felt  their 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  169 

influence  ?  Had  they  disseminated  the  pure  gospel 
of  Christ,  instead  of  the  delusions  of  Antichrist,  the 
nations  of  the  earth  had  been,  before  this,  evangelized. 

But  what  is  the  secret  of  their  prodigious,  far 
reaching  influence?  What  but  their  indomitable 
perseverance,  their  stout,  earnest  hearts  ;  their  zeal, 
their  burning  enthusiasm,  which  those  of  a  purer 
faith  might  well  emulate  ? 

At  the  command  of  the  pope,  said  Ignatius,  i  1 
would  embark  on  a  mission  for  any  shore,  in  a  ves 
sel  without  rudder,  sails,  mast,  or  stores.  And  in 
imitation  of  his  zeal,  the  entire  order  were  keyed  to 
a  pitch  of  moral  heroism,  such  as  never  existed  in 
any  other  equally  large  company  of  men. 

"  In  all  their  missions,"  says  one  who  has  ably 
sketched  their  history,  "the  order  displayed  an  in 
domitable  energy,  and  a  spirit  of  most  adventurous 
enterprise.  As  dauntless  as  they  were  versatile,  and 
as  unwearied  as  they  were  dauntless,  the  door  closed 
against  them  was  undermined,  if  it  could  not  be 
opened,  and  stormed  where  it  could  not  be  under 
mined.  Martyrdom  had  for  them  no  terrors.  Did 
the  news  return  to  their  colleges  in  Europe  of  a  mis* 
sionary  falling  riddled  by  the  arrows  of  a  Brazilian 
savage,  at  the  foot  of  the  crucifix  he  had  planted,  or 
of  scores  sent  into  the  depths  of  the  ocean  by  here 
tic  captors,  the  names  of  the  fallen  were  inserted  on 
the  rubrics  of  Jesuit  martyrs  ;  and  not  the  students 
only,  but  the  professors  of  their  institutions,  rushed 
to  fill  the  ranks  that  had  been  thus  thinned."  *  Of 


*  The  Jesuits  as  a  missionary  order:  Christian  Review,  1841 

15 


170  PEIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

an  earnestness  such  as  this,  was  not  their  wonderful 
success  almost  a  natural  result  ? 

Turn  next  to  the  "  United  Brethren,"  or  Mora 
vians,  as  they  are  called ;  who  began  their  mission 
ary  operations  when  their  whole  society  numbered 
only  about  six  hundred  persons,  and  they,  chiefly 
were  poor  exiles. 

As  a  single  instance  of  the  uniform  ardor  and 
energy  with  which  their  work  is  prosecuted,  mention 
might  be  made  of  the  planting  of  a  mission  in 
Greenland  in  1733.  The  pioneers  of  that  enterprise 
were  three  illiterate  men,  Christian  David,  and  two 
brothers,  whose  names  were  Matthew  and  Christian 
Stark.  They  had  heard  that  the  people  of  Green 
land  had  no  knowledge  of  the  Saviour;  and  with 
almost  no  outfit,  they  were  upon  the  wearisome 
journey  to  teach  them  the  way  of  salvation.  Ar 
rived  at  Copenhagen,  having  travelled  thither  on  foot, 
their  project  was  ridiculed  as  romantic  and  impracti 
cable.  They  were  informed  that  they  could  not  live 
there  ;  that  the  country  affording  no  wood,  they  could 
not  even  build  a  house  to  live  in.  "  Oh,  then  we 
will  dig  in  the  earth  and  live  there ; "  was  their  only 
reply.  On  reaching  the  place  of  their  destination, 
for  want  of  employment  as  a  means  of  support, 
they  began  the  business  of  spinning.  To  acquire 
the  language  of  the  natives,  it  was  first  necessary  to 
acquire  that  of  their  instructor.  This  task, — to 
them  most  difficult  from  their  ignorance  of  the  laws 
of  language,  —  once  overcome,  the  severity  of  their 
labors,  and  the  extremity  of  their  wants  exposed 
them  to  the  attacks  of  disease,  and  brought  them 
wellnigh  to  the  grave.  And  what  was  more,  they 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  171 

saw  no  fruit  of  their  labor.  For  five  long,  tedious 
years,  not  a  solitary  conversion  was  witnessed.  But 
yet,  recruited  by  the  arrival  of  two  other  missiona 
ries,  they  toil  on  in  the  spirit  of  their  motto,  "  We 
will  believe,  though  there  be  nothing  to  be  seen ;  and 
we  will  hope,  though  there  be  nothing  to  be  ex 
pected  ; "  and,  in  due  time,  their  hearts  are  glad 
dened  with  the  results  of  their  earnest  and  self-sacri 
ficing  efforts. 

"  Fired  with  a  zeal  peculiar,  they  defy 
The  rage  and  vigor  of  a  northern  sky ; 
And  plant  successfully,  sweet  Sharon's  rose 
On  icy  plains,  and  in  eternal  snows." 

It  has  been  recently  stated  that  the  living  converts 
of  the  "  United  Brethren,"  number  nearly  eighteen 
thousand,  and  they  are  found  in  almost  all  parts  of 
the  world.  And  all  this  is  the  result,  under  God,  of 
a  comparatively  few  earnest,  resolute  minds. 

Indeed,  what  will  not  a  mind,  charged  with  down 
right  earnestness,  accomplish  ?  Whether  we  discover 
the  force  of  this  principle  in  the  things  of  this  world, 
as  when  it  impels  a  Newton  to  pore  over  his  prob 
lems  "  till  the  midnight  wind  swept  over  his  papers 
the  ashes  of  his  long  extinguished  fire,"  —  or  a  Rey 
nolds  to  hold  in  hand  his  pencil  for  thirty-six  hours 
together,  —  or  a  Dryden  to  think  on,  for  a  fortnight, 
in  a  perfect  frenzy,  when  composing  an  ode,  heedless 
of  privations,  even,  which  he  did  not  so  much  as 
perceive,  —  or  a  Heyne,  the  German  scholar,  to  allow 
himself  "  no  more  than  two  nights  of  weekly  rest," 
for  six  months  in  succession,  that  he  might  complete 
the  perusal  of  old  Greek  authors;  or,  whether  we 


172  PKIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

discover  it  in  the  concerns  of  religion,  —  as  when  it 
urged  on  Martin  Luther  in  his  gigantic  labors  of 
preaching,  journeying,  debating,  corresponding,  and 
book  writing,  until,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the 
number  of  works  he  had  published  was  seven  hun 
dred  and  fifteen,  or  more  than  twenty-five  for  each 
year  of  his  public  life,  and  the  visible  results  of  other 
labors  beyond  estimate  or  description,  —  or  William 
Carey  to  think,  and  ponder,  and  study,  and  weep, 
and  preach,  and  pray  about  the  poor  heathen,  until 
the  ocean  separated  him  from  his  native  land ;  and 
then  to  toil  and  struggle  in  the  dark  habitations  of 
cruelty,  until  he  had  furnished  for  more  than  three 
hundred  millions  of  immortal  beings  the  "golden 
lamp  of  heaven,"  —  or  John  Wesley  to  preach,  and 
study,  and  write,  and  travel  five  thousand  miles  a 
year,  and  "  read  on  horseback,  history,  poetry,  phi 
losophy," —  or  George  Whitefield  to  exclaim  at  the 
close  of  his  first  sermon,  "  Glorious  God ! 

"  Unloose  my  stammering  tongue  to  tell 
Thy  love  immense,  unsearchable," 

and,  for  thirty-four  years,  to  traverse  England, 
Ireland,  and  Scotland,  and  cross  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
thirteen  times,  preaching  everywhere  and  at  all  times 
the  gospel  of  God's  grace,  —  or  Howard,  to  penetrate 
the  haunts  of  poverty  and  disease,  watch  over  sick 
and  dying  criminals,  plunge  into  clammy  dungeons 
where  reigned  madness  and  death,  and  sacrifice  his 
life  in  deeds  of  philanthropy,  —  or  a  Clarkson,  to  lay 
aside  "the  vestments  of  the  priesthood,"  and  with 
his  few  fellow  workers  plead  for  twenty  years  for 
the  suffering  sons  of  Africa,  until  "the  cry  of  the 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  173 

oppressed  roused  the  sensibilities  of  the  nation,  and 
the  *  Island  Empress'  rose  in  her  might,  and  said  to 
the  foul  traffic  in  human  flesh,  Thus  far  shalt  thou 
go,  and  no  further,"  —  wherever  it  is  observed,  it 
seems  to  clothe  one  with  a  kind  of  omnipotence. 
We  expect  little  from  the  opposite  character,  the 
sluggish,  irresolute  man,  but  here  we  always  antici 
pate  important  results. 

And  to  what  extent  does  this  principle  obtain 
among  the  mass  of  professing  Christians  in  our  day  ? 
That  they  do  not  generally  evince,  in  matters  of 
religion,  any  thing  like  the  zeal  which  is  required  in 
order  to  the  largest  success  of  the  gospel,  is  univer 
sally  acknowledged  and  deplored.  The  sentiment  of 
Rev.  John  Angel  James,  in  his  excellent  work,  "  The 
Church  in  Earnest,"  will  meet  with  a  general  affir 
mative  response  :  "  He  must  have  formed  very  inad 
equate  ideas  of  what  is  necessary  for  the  conversion 
of  a  world  from  sin  and  Satan  to  Christ  and  holi 
ness,  who  imagines  this  will  ever  be  done  without 
the  most  intense  earnestness,  and  a  degree  of  self- 
devotement  which  has  never  been  "witnessed,  except 
in  a  comparatively  few  instances,  since  the  days  of 

the  apostles Let  any  one   imagine  what   a 

triumph  over  all  the  selfishness,  the  cupidity,  the 
worldliness,  the  indolence,  the  luxuriousness  which 
are  to  be  found  among  professors,  must  take  place ; 
and  what  a  preponderance  of  the  holy,  heavenly, 
spiritual,  self-denying,  generous  virtues  must  come 
on,  —  what  a  general  breaking  down  of  all  the 
barriers  of  prejudice  between  different  denomina 
tions  of  Christians  must  be  effected,  —  what  a  fair 
and  open  field  for  the  operations  of  Christian  zeal 
15* 


PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

must  be  presented,  —  what  a  mighty  growth  of  spir 
itual  power  from  all  sections  of  the  one  church  must 
be  exhibited,  — before  ever  these  realms  of  darkness 
and   wickedness    are    evangelized.     What    a   great 
work  it  must  be  to  overtake  the  population  of  even 
this  country  with  the  means  of  religious  instruction, 
and  to  reclaim  from  sterility  and  desolation  the  vast 
and  neglected  wastes  which  are  found  here  ;  and  to 
drain  and  cultivate  these  pestilent  bogs  of  ignorance, 
crime,  and  misery!     And  this   is   only  but  as   the 
homestead,  and  the  garden,  compared  with  the  wil 
derness  of  Paganism  and  Mohammedanism  that  lies 
beyond.     Let  any  man  cast  his  eye  over  a  map  of 
our  globe,  with  a  geographical  and  historical  knowl 
edge  of  the  tyrannical  governments,  the  idolatrous 
religions,   the    savage    barbarism,   the    multifarious 
languages,  the  unapproachable  suspicion,  which  are 
comprehended  under  the  names  and  within  the  lines 
that  are  before  him ;  and  think  of  winning  all  this  to 
Christ,  and  covering  all  these  dark  domains  of  sin 
and  Satan  with  the  beauties  of  holiness,  the  joys  of 
hope,  the  blessings  of  salvation,  —  and  yet  this  is  the 
business  of  the  church,  its  labor  and  its  hope.     Will 
these  valleys  be  filled  up,  these  mountains  be  levelled  ? 
Will  these  crooked  things  be  made  straight,  and  these 
rough  places  be  made  plain,  without  an  earnestness 
we  have  never  yet  witnessed  ?     Is  there  not  an  ago 
nizing  effort,  such  as  we  know  nothing  about,  yet  to 
be  called  forth,  by  which  all  this  is  to  be  achieved  ? 
We  have  even  yet  to  learn  what  kind  of  work  we 
have  undertaken  in  setting  our  hands  to  the  world's 
conversion;    and  must   be  made  to  learn,  perhaps, 
more  painfully,  more  impressively,  than  we  have  yet 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  175 

done,  the  nature  of  the  difficulties  that  are  to  be 
overcome,  that  we  may  see  what  kind  of  men,  and 
what  kind  of  efforts,  are  required  for  the  accomplish 
ment  of  the  marvellous  and  glorious  consummation." 

There  should  be  an  increased  earnestness  in  the 
ministry  of  our  day.  Allusion  has  been  made  to  the 
heroic  devotedness  and  self-consuming  zeal  of  the 
Apostle  to  the  Gentiles.  But  is  he  not  too  often 
considered,  in  this  respect,  as  beyond  imitation? 
Does  not  doubt  oftentimes  exist  as  to  whether  it 
could  reasonably  be  expected  of  modern  ministers  to 
be  as  intensely  and  wholly  absorbed  in  the  work  of 
the  Master  as  was  Paul  ?  And  yet  is  it  anywhere 
even  intimated  that  he  was  to  be  considered  as  an 
exception  to  what  others  should  be  ?  Nay,  is  not  a 
construction  of  his  example  such  as  this,  plainly  for 
bidden  by  his  own  words,  "  Be  ye  followers  of  me, 
even  as  I  also  am  of  Christ?"  It  must  be  admitted, 
therefore,  that  the  example  of  the  apostle  furnishes  a 
model  to  which  ministers  of  the  gospel,  in  'all  time, 
may  and  should  conform.  And  can  it  be  doubted 
that,  because,  in  respect  to  an  entire  self-devotement, 
the  ministry  at  large  are  not  followers  of  him  who  so 
closely  followed  Christ,  they  are  not  to  a  greater 
extent  sharers  of  his  success  ?  Were  their  labors 
marked  by  the  same  earnestness,  would  they  not 
also  be  attended  with  the  same  or  similar  blessed 
results  ? 

"  Ministers,"  said  the  excellent  John  Sutcliff,  "  min 
isters  will  never  do  much  good  till  they  begin  to  pull 
sinners  out  of  the  fire."  Is  there  enough  of  this  lay 
ing  hold  upon  ungodly  men,  and  plucking  them  as 
brands  from  the  burning?  Is  there  enough  of  be- 


176  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

seeching  men,  with  tears,  night  and  day,  to  be  rec 
onciled  to  God?  Is  there  not  too  often  a  resting 
satisfied  with  the  mere  routine  of  duty,  —  with  an 
attendance  to  the  prescribed  forms  or  engagements, 
in  an  ex  officio  manner,  the  heart  not  being  in  the 
work,  and  the  will  not  intently  set  upon  achieving  some 
worthy  result  ?  It  is  to  be  feared  this  is  too  much  the 
case  in  the  public  ministration  of  the  Word.  The 
mind  does  not,  in  all  cases,  glow  with  the  subject 
under  consideration,  —  it  does  not  fill  the  soul,  and 
warm  into  life  its  emotions. 

"  Who  is  likely,"  asks  one,  "  to  be  moved  by  hear 
ing  a  man  discuss  the  most  awful  realities  of  eternal 
truth,  such  as  the  danger  and  the  doom  of  immortal 
souls,  the  glories  of  heaven,  and  the  torments  of  hell, 
with  as  much  coolness,  and  with  as  little  emotion  as 
a  lecturer  on  science  would  exhibit  when  dwelling 
on  the  facts  of  natural  history  ?  "  Unless  the  preacher 
feel,  how  can  it  be  expected  that  the  hearer  should 
feel?  There  is  much  force  in  the  well-known  reply 
of  the  actor  to  the  minister  who  inquired,  "  How  is 
it  that  your  performances,  which  are  but  pictures  of 
the  imagination,  produce  so  much  more  effect  than 
our  sermons,  which  are  all  realities  ?  "  "  Because," 
said  the  actor,  "  we  represent  our  fictions  as  though 
they  were  realities,  and  you  preach  your  realities  as 
though  they  were  fictions." 

Taylor  informs  us,  that  when  Loyola  commenced 
his  discourse,  a  breathless  silence  reigned  through 
the  church ;  and  that  as  he  proceeded  there  was  per 
ceptible  pressure  towards  the  pulpit ;  sighs  soon  be 
came  audible  on  every  side  ;  then  these  sighs  swelled 
into  sobs,  and  these  sobs  into  groans.  Some  fell  on 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  177 

the  pavements  as  if  lifeless.  Once  and  again  an 
obdurate  offender  —  hitherto  obdurate — pushed  for 
ward,  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  preacher  as  he 
left  the  pulpit,  and  with  convulsive  struggles  made 
a  loud  confession  of  his  crimes.  And  he  adds,  that 
men  from  every  class  of  society,  not  exclusive  of  dig 
nified  ecclesiastics,  "  were  numbered  among  the  con 
quests  of  earnest  preaching." 

"  I  have  not  wept  but  once  these  forty  years,"  said 
a  veteran  military  officer,  "and  that  was  when  I 
heard  Jesse  Busheyhead,  the  Cherokee  preacher, 
address  his  countrymen  from  the  parable  of  the 
prodigal  son,  the  tears  flowing  faster  than  he  could 
wipe  them  away." 

An  unopened  note  was  found  upon  the  table  of 
McCheyne,  after  his  death,  from  one  who  heard  his 
last  sermon,  to  this  effect:  "Pardon  a  stranger  for 
addressing  to  you  a  few  lines.  I  heard  you  preach 
last  Sabbath  evening,  and  it  pleased  God  to  bless 
that  sermon  to  my  soul.  It  was  not  so  much  what 
you  said,  as  the  manner  of  speaking  it  that  struck 
me.  I  saw  in  you  a  beauty  of  holiness  I  never  saw 
before."  He  who  has  read  the  life  and  writings  of 
this  young  servant  of  Christ,  and  marked  his  earnest, 
loving,  melting  appeals,  can  readily  account  for  this 
effect  upon  the  stranger's  mind. 

And  is  there  any  thing  remarkable  in  all  this  ?  Is 
not  love  "  the  key  to  the  human  soul  ?  "  Does  it  not 
give  access  to  hearts  ?  One  may  meet  logic,  and 
smile  at  rhetoric,  and  be  unmoved  by  eloquence  ;  but 
can  he  resist  love?  Can  he  see  one  deeply  intent 
upon  his  salvation,  —  distressed  about  his  dangerous 
condition,  pleading,  urging,  entreating,  weeping,  pray- 


178  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

ing,  —  and  all  with  a  view  to  his  benefit,  and  remain 
unaffected  ?  «  Why  is  he  so  anxious  about  me  ?  " 
is  the  involuntary  suggestion.  "  I  cannot  stand  this 
earnestness."  "  If  he  is  so  concerned  about  my  soul, 
surely  I  ought  to  be  concerned  about  myself."  "  There 
must  be  a  reality  in  what  he  says,  or  he  could  not  be 
so  deeply  moved."  Thus  it  is  in  every  department 
of  ministerial  labor.  Earnestness  is  the  pledge  of 
success,  —  its  absence  renders  it  impossible. 

The  world  has  little  to  hope  from  men,  says  one, 
"merely  because  they  happen  to  occupy  the  pulpit, 
instead  of  some  other  position,  —  merely  because  they 
are  Reverends,  instead  of  Judges  and  Generals"  The 
source  of  hope  is  in  the  earnest  workers.  It  was  for 
"  laborers  "  in  the  harvest-field  that  our  Lord  taught 
his  disciples  to  pray ;  and  many,  according  to  their  own 
painful  convictions,  come  far  short  in  ardent,  laborious, 
self-sacrificing  effort  in  the  work  of  gathering  souls  to 
Christ.  Baxter  is  not  the  only  one  who  could  say, "  I 
confess,  to  my  shame,  that  I  remember  no  one  sin  that 
my  conscience  doth  so  much  accuse  and  judge  me 
for,  as  for  doing  so  little  for  the  salvation  of  men's 
souls,  and  dealing  no  more  earnestly  and  fervently 
with  them  for  their  conversion.  I  confess  that  when 
I  am  alone,  and  think  of  the  case  of  poor,  ignorant, 
worldly,  earthly,  unconverted  sinners,  that  live  not  to 
God  nor  set  their  hearts  on  the  life  to  come,  my 
conscience  telleth  me  that  I  should  go  to  as  many  of 
them  as  I  can,  and  tell  them  plainly  what  will  be 
come  of  them  if  they  do  not  turn  ;  and  beseech  them 
with  all  the  earnestness  that  I  can,  to  come  to  Christ, 
and  change  their  course,  and  make  no  delay.  And 
though  I  have  many  excuses,  from  other  business,  and 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  179 

from  disability  and  want  of  time,  yet  none  of  them 
all  do  satisfy  my  own  conscience  when  I  consider 
what  heaven  and  hell  are,  which  will  one  of  them  be 
the  end  of  every  man's  life.  My  conscience  telleth  me 
that  I  should  follow  them  with  all  possible  earnestness, 
night  and  day,  and  take  no  denial  till  they  turn  to 
God."  It  is  more  of  this  beseeching  men  to  turn  to 
God,  and  taking  no  denial,  this  setting'  of  the  heart  upon 
it,  and  feeling  a  sadness,  a  "  continual  sorrow  "  until 
their  salvation  is  secure,  it  is  this  that  is  required. 

John  Welch  used  to  keep  a  plaid  upon  his  bed 
that  he  might  wrap  himself  in  it  when  he  arose  in 
the  night  to  pray.  Sometimes  his  wife  found  him 
upon  the  ground  weeping ;  and  when  she  complained, 
he  would  say,  "  O  woman,  I  have  the  souls  of  three 
thousand  to  answer  for,  and  I  know  not  how  it  is 
with  many  of  them  !  "  Akin  to  this  was  the  spirit 
of  John  Knox,  who  was  led  to  exclaim  in  a  prayer 
for  his  beloved  country,  "  O  God,  give  me  Scotland 
or  I  die ! "  Such  was  the  spirit  of  David  when  he 
could  say,  "  Rivers  of  water  run  down  mine  eyes 
because  they  keep  not  thy  law ; "  and  of  Jeremiah,  in 
uttering  that  pathetic  exclamation,  "  O  that  my  head 
were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that 
I  might  weep,  day  and  night,  for  the  slain  of  the 
daughter  of  my  people ! "  —  and  of  Paul,  who  thus 
gives  expression  to  the  "  great  heaviness  "  that  pressed 
upon  his  soul ;  "  I  could  wish  that  myself  were  ac 
cursed  from  Christ,  for  my  brethren,  my  kinsmen 
according  to  the  flesh ! " 

When  all  those  who  are  specially  called  to  watch 
for  souls,  shall  have  become  possessed  of  this  spirit, 
— when  they  shall  be  found  thus  intent  upon  the 


180  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

salvation  of  dying  men,  —  how  bright  shall  be  the 
conquests  of  our  King!  Themselves  impelled  by 
ardent  desires  and  high-born  resolves,  the  people 
shall  catch  their  spirit,  and  with  an  unwonted 
energy  strike  hands  in  doing  battle  for  the  "  Lord  of 
hosts."  For  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  not  the 
ministers  only  but  also  the  people  have  need  of  greater 
earnestness  in  the  matters  of  religion. 

A  proper  regard  for  their  own  salvation  requires  it. 
They  must  strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate.  They 
must  "  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith  "  and  "  lay  hold 
upon  eternal  life."  And  who  does  not  discover  that 
the  prevailing  disposition  to  smooth  down  the  rougher 
points  of  religion,  as  they  are  termed,  and  make  sal 
vation  an  easier  matter  than  it  is  represented  in  the 
Scriptures,  as  well  as  the  almost  unprecedented  strife 
after  wealth,  and  tendency  on  the  part  of  professors 
of  religion  to  become  conformed  to  the  world,  render 
it  absolutely  essential  that  Christians  be  more  deeply 
concerned  and  interested  about  their  personal  salva 
tion  ?  And  there  must  be  far  more  earnestness  with 
regard  to  the  salvation  of  others.  A  missionary  to 
the  heathen,  in  addressing  his  brethren  at  home, 
says :  "  To  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  we  must 
look  for  a  new  order  of  men,  —  men  just  as  absorbed 
in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  as  worldlings  are  in  gath 
ering  gold." 

Ah,  how  merited  the  reproof  implied  in  this  lan 
guage!  Are  Christians  thus  "absorbed"  in  the 
blessed  service  ?  Does  it  take  hold  upon  their  hearts 
and  desires  ?  Upon  this  one  point  do  they  concen 
trate  all  their  enterprise  ?  Would  to  God  it  were  so ! 
But  "  where,"  as  one  exclaims,  "  are  the  kindled  eye, 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  181 

and  the  beaming  countenance,  and  the  heart  burst 
ing  with  the  momentous  importance  of  the  gospel 
message  ?  Where  the  fearlessness  and  confidence 
whose  very  tones  inspire  conviction,  and  carry  with 
them  all  the  force  of  certainty,  and  the  weight  of  an 
oath  ?  Where  the  zeal  which  burns  with  its  subject, 
as  if  it  had  just  come  from  witnessing  the  crucifix 
ion,  and  felt  its  theme  with  all  the  freshness  and 
force  of  a  new  revelation  ?  —  the  zeal  which,  during 
its  intervals  of  labor,  repairs  to  the  mount  of  vision, 
to  see  the  funeral  procession  of  six  hundred  millions 
of  souls ;  to  the  mouth  of  hell,  to  hear  six  hundred 
millions  of  voices  saying,  as  the  voice  of  one  man, 
4  Send  to  our  brethren  lest  they  also  come  to  this 
place  of  torment ; '  to  Calvary  to  renew  its  vigor  by 
touching  the  cross ;  to  the  spot  where  John  stood,  to 
catch  a  view  of  the  ranks  of  the  blessed  above.* 

Some  few  instances  of  a  zeal  like  this  are  wit 
nessed,  but,  alas,  how  few!  Considerations  of  the 
most  weighty  character  demand  that  there  be  found 
among  the  followers  of  Christ,  more  of  this  ardent 
engagedness  in  the  work  to  which  they  are  called. 
It  is  rendered  necessary  by  the  spirit  of  the  age, 
whose  great  characteristic  is  mental  and  social  activ 
ity.  The  energies  of  men  were  never  before  so  thor 
oughly  awakened  as  at  this  moment.  Everywhere 
are  restlessness,  change,  enterprise,  progress.  The 
world  is  on  tiptoe ;  the  spirit  of  inquiry  is  abroad ; 
and  the  forces  of  mankind  are  stimulated  to  their 
highest  pitch. 

In  the  affairs  of  life,  Christians  are  as  ardent  and 


*  See  •'  Witnessing  Church,"  p.  64. 

16 


182  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

laborious  as  other  men.  There,  they  are  intent  upon 
their  object.  To  compass  their  ends  they  rise  early 
and  sit  up  late.  By  day  their  eyes  and  ears  are  open, 
and  their  hands  are  filled  with  work ;  and  by  night, 
their  thoughts  are  busy  upon  the  best  plans  of  busi 
ness  for  the  morrow.  But  how  little  of  this  deep 
interest  and  determined  effort,  on  the  part  of  Chris 
tians  generally,  with  reference  to  advancing  the  glory 
of  God  in  the  world !  How  few  minds  study  and 
plan  by  day  and  meditate  by  night,  upon  the  prob 
lem,  "  What  can  be  done  to  save  men  from  perdi 
tion  ?  "  Alas,  that  here,  just  where  they  should  feel 
most,  here,  where  the  things  of  the  soul,  and  God, 
and  eternity  are  involved,  they  are  so  listless,  uncon 
cerned,  inactive ! 

The  activity  of  which  we  speak  sometimes  mani 
fests  itself  in  enterprise,  or  bold,  resolute,  adventurous 
undertakings.  And  how  much  of  this  is  observable 
in  the  things  of  this  world !  What  comprehensive 
ness  and  keen  calculation  and  far-sightedness  in  the 
laying  of  plans  of  action !  What  skill,  and  energy, 
and  perseverance  in  carrying  out  those  plans  !  The 
most  subtle  and  powerful  agencies  at  any  cost,  must 
be  employed,  and  risks  of  property  and  life,  even, 
scarcely  taken  into  account,  while  instances  of  fail 
ure  and  defeat  but  render  more  intent  the  will,  and 
determined  the  effort. 

But  how  little  enterprise  is  manifest  in  connection 
with  the  cause  of  Christ!  Here  the  policy  is  cold, 
cautious,  calculating.  Here  we  walk  by  sight,  and 
sacrifice  zeal  to  prudence,  which  is,  more  properly 
speaking,  timidity,  or  unbelief.  As  viewed  by  many, 
our  faithful  Master  must  not  be  trusted  to  too  large 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  183 

an  amount  of  money,  and  for  too  long  a  time,  but 
we  must  be  sure  that  we  are  safe  at  every  single  mo 
ment,  and  in  the  investment  of  every  single  dollar! 
O  how  sickening  the  contrast  here,  between  things 
worldly  and  religious !  With  God  on  their  side,  and 
all  the  promises,  it  would  seem  that  Christians  might 
be  more  enterprising  than  the  men  of  the  world. 
Especially  when  we  remember  that  in  magnitude 
and  glory,  their  work  as  far  surpasses  that  of  the 
worldling,  as  eternity  surpasses  time.  But  where 
we  should  expect  to  find  the  most  of  bold  and  high 
resolve,  there  we  find  the  least. 

The  men  of  this  world  are  wiser  in  their  generation 
than  the  children  of  light.  Shrewd,  foresighted,  ad 
venturous  in  their  operations,  they  realize  large  suc 
cess.  Mountains  are  tunnelled  and  reduced  to 
plains,  deep  valleys  are  filled  or  bridged  at  immense 
expense,  to  form  the  iron  or  the  watery  way,  the 
solid  earth  is  encompassed  with  wiry  lines  for  the 
lightning's  course,  and  the  great  deep  mapped  out 
into  thoroughfares  and  traversed  for  the  commerce 
of  the  nations ;  and  the  returns  are  commensurate 
with  the  magnitude  of  their  undertakings. 

But  where  are  the  adventurers  for  Christ  ?  How 
few  are  engrossed  in  projecting  stupendous  enter 
prises  whereby  a  large  revenue  of  glory  shall  accrue 
to  the  blessed  Redeemer  ?  How  few  are  willing  to 
run  risks  in  bold,  aggressive  plans  of  benevolence! 
A  missionary  of  the  cross  has  well  asked :  "  Is  it  not 
a  fact  that  will  strike  us  dumb  at  the  judgment,  that 
it  is  the  love  of  money,  not  zeal  for  God,  that  digs 
canals,  lays  railroads,  runs  steamboats  and  packets, 
and,  in  short,  is  the  mainspring  in  every  great  under- 


184  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

taking  ?  "  Why,  oh  why  should  not  Christians  be 
foremost  in  zeal  and  enterprise  ? 

Always  desirable,  it  is  especially  so  in  an  age  like 
this.  An  active  piety  is  alone  adapted  to  active 
times.  An  earnest  spirit  in  the  world,  renders  neces 
sary  an  earnest  spirit  in  the  church.  Unless  it  is 
possessed,  the  former,  and  not  the  latter,  will  take 
the  lead  in  society  ;  and  facilities,  such  as  an  active 
age  is  sure  to  furnish  for  advancing  the  cause  of 
Christ,  will  pass  by  unimproved.  How  imperative 
the  demand,  then,  for  earnest  Christians  ;  not  minis 
ters  alone,  but  laymen,  —  men  whose  souls  are  deeply 
intent  upon  rendering  the  recent  unprecedented  pro 
gress  in  society,  intelligence,  and  wealth,  and  discov 
ery,  and  the  remarkable  revolutions  and  changes  in 
the  world,  subservient  to  the  interests  of  the  kingdom 
of  grace,  —  eager  stockholders  in  noble  Christian 
enterprises,  —  argus  eyed  men,  watching  for  chances 
to  gain  some  glorious  end  for  Christ,  and  determined 
to  trust  and  test  God  to  the  utmost.  What  wonders 
would  even  a  few  such  men,  under  God,  accomplish! 

There  is  another  consideration  which  gives  em 
phasis  to  the  demand  of  which  we  speak ;  namely, 
the  purity  and  prosperity  of  the  church.  She  needs 
force  within  in  order  to  resist  corrupting  influences 
from  without.  For  want  of  this,  the  ancient  church 
lost  her  purity  and  strength.  There  was  not  internal 
vigor  sufficient  to  repel  the  pernicious  evils  against 
which  she  at  first  contended,  but  which,  at  length, 
were  allowed  to  insinuate  themselves,  in  the  form  of 
Roman  policy,  and  Gothic  ignorance,  and  Grecian 
ingenuity,  and  Syrian  asceticism.  It  must  be 
apparent  to  every  reflecting  mind,  that  there  are  now 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  185 

evil  influences  in  operation  against  the  body  of 
Christ's  disciples,  which  can  be  repelled  only  by  an 
increase  of  life  and  vigor  within.  One  of  these  influ 
ences  has  been  alluded  to  in  a  previous  chapter. 
Look  at  others.  The  church  is  in  danger  of  being 
corrupted  by  the  wickedness  of  the  times  upon  which 
we  have  fallen. 

The  language  of  Micah  is  peculiarly  appropriate 
to  our  day :  "  The  good  man  is  perished  out  of  the 
earth ;  and  there  is  none  upright  among  men :  they 
all  lie  in  wait  for  blood ;  they  hunt  every  man  his 
brother  with  a  net.  That  they  may  do  evil  with 
both  hands  earnestly,  the  prince  asketh,  and  the 
judge  asketh  for  a  reward;  and  the  great  man,  he 
uttereth  his  mischievous  desire ;  so  they  wrap  it  up." 
The  example  of  wicked  men  is  always  pernicious ; 
how  much  more  so  when  it  comes  clothed  with 
position  and  authority.  When  the  fountains  of 
influence  are  corrupt,  it  certainly  requires  the  utmost 
exertion  to  keep  the  waters  sweet.  In  the  times  of 
Israel  the  people  were  often  rendered  vile  in  the 
sight  of  God,  through  the  defection  of  their  rulers. 

There  is,  after  all,  less  to  fear  from  wickedness  in 
low  places,  than  in  high  places  ;  and  if  in  our  day 
there  is  a  general  and  painful  absence  of  integrity, 
and  sound,  high-toned  morality  among  those  who 
are  prominent  from  their  ambitious  or  selfish  designs, 
or  their  official  position,  we  may  rest  assured  that 
the  evil  will  diffuse  itself  downward  throughout  the 
various  ramifications  of  society,  and  that  the 
churches  of  Jesus  Christ  are  in  the  highest  danger 
of  partaking  of  the  general  contamination.  Their 
only  safety  is  in  a  courageous,  unflinching  defence 
16* 


186  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

of  the  pure  principles  of  the  gospel;  illustrating 
them  in  their  daily  conduct,  and  insisting  upon  their 
application  to  every  possible  grade  and  condition 
and  relation  of  life.  If  any  quarter  is  given  to  the 
godless,  semi-infidel  precepts  of  the  day,  —  if  Chris 
tians,  through  fear  or  favor,  are  induced  partially  to 
yield  their  ground,  or  in  one  single  iota  compro 
mise  their  principles,  consequences  the  most  disas 
trous  cannot  fail  to  be  the  result.  And  they  surely 
will  yield  unless  their  piety  be  of  a  vigorous,  earnest 
character. 

Moreover,  the  acknowledged  enemies  of  a  pure 
religion  are  intent  upon  the  overthrow  of  Christ's 
church  in  the  earth.  Not  to  speak  of  disguised 
sceptics,  and  avowed  rationalists  and  infidels,  look 
at  Romanists  in  our  own  and  other  lands.  At  one 
time  thirty  young  priests  sent  a  request  to  the  Prop 
aganda  Society,  with  their  names  signed  with  blood 
drawn  from  their  own  veins,  and  requesting  to  be 
sent  as  missionaries  to  China.  It  is  but  a  single 
illustration  of  the  zeal  with  which  our  adversaries 
prosecute  their  work.  Whether  at  the  Vatican, — 
where  gigantic  intellects  are  planning  and  '  burning 
hearts  are  feeding  the  fire  of  their  zeal,'  and  busy 
hands  are  working  on  daring  and  mischievous  de 
signs, —  or  in  our  own  cities,  —  or  on  the  missionary 
field,  these  emissaries  of  darkness  are  ever  on  the 
alert,  impelled  by  a  zeal  that  knows  no  change. 

And  the  following  remarks  of  an  English  writer 
upon  this  feature  of  the  Romish  hierarchy  are  very 
just :  "  It  is  this  mysterious  and  indomitable  earnest 
ness  of  the  priesthood,  which  has  resisted  the  attacks 
of  logic,  rhetoric,  and  piety ;  of  divines,  philosophers, 
and  statesmen ;  of  wit,  humor,  and  ridicule ;  and 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  187 

which  in  this  age  of  learning  and  science,  commerce 
and  liberty,  not  only  enables  it  to  maintain  its 
ground,  but  to  advance  and  make  conquests.  The 
Church  of  Rome,  which  would,  in  the  hands  of  a 
lukewarm  priesthood,  fall  by  the  weight  of  its  own 
absurdity,  or  be  crushed  by  the  hands  of  its  constant 
assailants,  is  still  strong  in  the  hearts  of  its  mem 
bers  ;  each  of  whom,  from  the  Pope  down  through 
all  its  civil  and  ecclesiastical  gradations  to  the  most 
insignificant  member,  is  a  type  of  concentrated  and 
glowing  zeal." 

Can  a  cold,  lukewarm  church  bear  up  against 
such  intense  earnestness  ?  May  we  sleep  while  the 
enemy  is  ever  busy  sowing  tares  ?  Is  it  safe,  even 
in  our  highly  favored  country,  for  Christians  to  fold 
their  arms  in  listless  security,  and  trust  to  the  intelli 
gence  of  the  people,  and  the  solidity  of  the  civil, 
political,  or  religious  institutions,  as  a  sufficient 
guaranty  to  their  liberties?  Nay,  verily.  Not  in 
these,  but,  under  God,  in  their  own  ardent  and  unre- 
mitted  exertion,  must  they  trust,  or  else  be  prepared 
to  suffer  a  terrible  defeat. 

Besides  the  evil  influences  already  referred  to, 
against  which  the  church  is  called  to  contend,  there 
is  a  tendency  on  its  own  part,  —  from  which  it  has 
even  more  to  fear,  —  a  tendency  to  accept,  and  rest 
satisfied  in,  a  superficial,  dead,  formal  religion. 

The  great  ecclesiastical  contest  of  the  world  has 
ever  been  between  spirituality  and  formalism,  —  be 
tween  a  simple,  free,  active  religion,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  a  ceremonious,  bigoted,  inoperative  religion 
on  the  other.  The  latter  has  often  proved  too  pow 
erful  for  the  former ;  as  is  seen  in  the  degeneracy  of 


188  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

the  Jewish  religion,  at  first  comparatively  pure,  but 
finally  a  mere  routine  of  dry  and  tedious  formalities. 
The  same  is  true  of  the  religion  of  those  lands 
where  the  gospel  was  originally  promulgated.  At 
first  it  triumphed  over  idolatry  with  its  abomina 
tions,  and  all  other  untoward  influences,  and  wrought 
.the  most  wonderful  changes  in  the  aspect  of  society ; 
but  finally  was  displaced  by  a  religion  of  forms, 
which  under  the  name  of  Christianity  festered  with 
rank  corruption.  Look,  too,  at  the  lands  where 
Luther,  and  Calvin,  and  Zuingle  wrought  their 
mighty  achievements  for  God  and  the  truth.  A 
pure  faith  gained  the  ascendency,  and  the  reformed 
churches  sprung  up  in  every  direction.  But  in  less 
than  fifty  years  from  the  time  of  Luther,  most  of  the 
churches  in  Germany  had  become  cold  and  dead. 

And  this  degenerate  tendency  is,  to-day,  as  strong 
as  ever  before.  It  is,  alas,  but  too  apparent  in  the 
present  condition  of  many  churches  even  in  our  very 
midst.  But  is  there  any  necessity  for  this  decline  ? 
Is  there  any  immutable  law  by  which  this  fearful 
process  must  go  forward  ?  It  were  a  most  serious 
reflection  upon  the  great  Author  of  Christianity,  to 
entertain  for  a  moment  a  supposition  like  this. 

Where  lies,  then,  the  preventive  ?  How  shall  the 
church,  under  God,  preserve  itself  from  defection  ? 
The  question  is  one  of  momentous  importance,  but, 
nevertheless,  easily  answered.  It  is  by  being  aggres 
sive  and  diffusive.  Here,  as  everywhere,  the  unaltera 
ble  condition  of  soundness  and  health  is  energetic 
activity.  Hence  it  is  that  the  early  churches  main 
tained  their  purity  and  their  primitive  power,  just  so 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  189 

long  as  they  pressed  their  bloodless  conquests,  and 
addressed  themselves  in  godliness  and  sincerity  to 
the  work  of  the  Lord.  When  they  became  '  strong, 
and  had  need  of  nothing,'  as  they  vainly  imagined, — 
when  they  were  satisfied  with  present  attainments, 
and  were  ready  to  settle  down  in  quiet  enjoyment, — 
just  at  that  point  they  became  lukewarm,  and  the 
Saviour  was  ready  to  spue  them  out  of  his  mouth. 
Sensible  of  their  poweiiessness,  the  next  step  was  to 
seek  aid  in  State  support,  and  therefore  they  gladly 
allied  themselves  to  worldly  governments,  by  the 
overlaying  of  which  the  little  life  that  remained  was 
soon  quite  smothered  to  death.  "  The  simple  rites 
of  primitive  times,"  as  we  are  told,  "  were  amplified 
and  adorned,  and  the  holy  and  self-denying  spirit  of 
apostles  and  martyrs  took  its  flight.  Christianity 
ascended  the  throne  of  the  Csesars,  clothed  herself  in 
barbaric  splendor,  fared  sumptuously  every  day,  and 
became  a  proud,  bloated  carcass,  splendid  to  the  eye 
of  men,  but  corrupt  and  offensive  to  the  eye  of  God. 
Antichrist  arose ;  and  then  formalism  and  bigotry 
were  enthroned  in  the  professed  church  of  Jesus 
Christ." 

What  a  lesson  does  this  brief  history  of  bygone 
days  read  to  the  living  gospel  churches  of  our  day ! 
Does  it  not  say  to  them  in  tones  of  profound  em 
phasis  :  "  Rest  not  satisfied  with  present  attain 
ments !  Beware  of  indolence  and  inactivity!  If 
you  would  enjoy  the  vigor  and  freshness  and  enthu 
siasm  of  youth,  —  if  you  would  maintain  the  purity 
and  simplicity  of  the  first  love,  —  if  you  would  meet 
the  demands  of  God  and  of  the  age,  become  not 
proud  of  success!  Cease  not  your  earnest  efforts! 


190  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

Rest  not  from  your  self-sacrificing  toils !  You  must 
conquer,  or  be  conquered  !  Either  exist  aggressively, 
or  not  exist  at  all ! 

O  that  these  admonitions  might  be  heeded  !  Al 
ready  has  the  process  of  deterioration  far  too  gener 
ally  commenced.  Already  are  too  many  churches 
slumbering  in  supposed  security.  Already  are  too 
many  Christians  "  at  ease  in  Zion."  Already  are 
they  comparatively  powerless  from  inaction. 

When  evils  so  great  are  threatening  the  welfare  of 
the  Church  of  the  living  God,  —  when  so  many 
nations  are  crying  for  the  bread  of  life,  —  when  so 
much  work  needs  to  be  done  in  our  own  homes,  and 
congregations,  and  communities,  —  and  when  life's 
golden  moments  are  so  few,  ought  not  every  one  of 
us  to  chide  himself  for  his  listless  inactivity;  and 
cry,— 

"  Up,  up,  my  soul,  and  on, — 

Thou  may'st  not  linger  here, 

Nor  toil  nor  conflict  shun, 

Though  hedged  about  with  fear. 

Thine  be  the  care 

Each  duty  to  fulfil,  each  burden  share ; 
Up,  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord  is  near !  " 

Fellow  disciple,  how  much  of  this  earnestness  in 
Christ's  service  do  you  possess  ?  If  a  neighbor  of 
yours  were  drowning  in  your  sight,  and  crying  out 
for  help,  how  intent  would  be  your  efforts  for  his  res 
cue  !  If  you  were  passing  a  burning  house,  whose 
occupants  were  looking  from  the  windows,  and  im 
ploring  you  to  furnish  them  with  the  means  of 
escape,  —  how  earnestly  would  you  struggle  for  their 
deliverance!  Should  you  be  less  earnest  in  saving 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  191 

the  souls  of  your  fellow  men  from  everlasting  burn 
ings  ?  O,  do  you  believe  what  you  profess  to  be 
lieve  ?  Do  you  believe  in  a  judgment,  a  heaven,  and 
a  hell  ?  Do  you  believe  that  poor  sinners  are  every 
moment  liable  to  fall  into  endless  perdition  ?  Then 
why  are  you  so  unconcerned  and  so  inactive  with 
reference  to  their  salvation  ?  Is  it  strange  that  un 
godly  men,  unable  to  reconcile  this  indifference  with 
your  profession,  become  sceptical  of  the  whole  mat 
ter  of  religion  ? 

"  Why,  Sir,"  said  an  infidel  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Philip, 
of  Scotland,  before  he  entered  upon  his  mission  in 
Southern  Europe,  "  did  I  believe  as  you  profess  to 
do,  and  did  I  act  as  you  act,  I  should  feel  ashamed. 
You  profess  to  believe  that  the  world  is  lost,  and 
going  to  final  perdition,  and  that  you  have  a  remedy 
that  can  save  it: — Why  do  you  not  go  forth,  and 
plead  with  your  perishing  fellow  men,  with  all  the 
earnestness  which  such  a  case  demands  ?  Why  do 
you  not  go  among  the  nations  that  are  sitting  in 
darkness,  that  know  not  the  God  of  your  Bible  ;  and 
afford  them  at  least  a  chance  of  obtaining  salvation  ? 
If  your  creed  were  mine,  I  could  not  rest,  till  I  had 
warned  men  of  their  condition,  and  entreated  them 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come."  O  when  shall  there 
be  no  longer  occasion  for  rebukes  like  this ! 

Paul  was  charged  with  being  beside  himself,  when 
his  mind  dwelt  upon  the  great  things  of  the  king 
dom.  But  upon  matters  of  such  pressing  moment, 
the  highest  enthusiasm  is  only  sober  earnestness. 

Rowland  Hill,  once  meeting  the  charge  of  being 
an  enthusiast,  said,  "When  I  first  came  into  this 
part  of  the  country,  I  was  walking  on  yonder  hill ; 


192  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

and  I  saw  a  gravel  pit  fall  in  and  bury  three  human 
beings  alive.  I  lifted  up  my  voice  for  help  so  loud, 
that  I  was  heard  in  the  town  below,  a  distance  of  a 
mile,  —  no  one  called  me  an  enthusiast  then.  And 
when  I  see  eternal  destruction  ready  to  fall  upon 
poor  sinners,  and  about  to  entomb  them  in  an  eter 
nal  mass  of  woe,  and  call  on  them  to  escape  by 
repenting  and  fleeing  to  Christ,  shall  I  be  called  an 
enthusiast  ?  No,  sinner,  I  am  not  an  enthusiast  in 
so  doing." 

Would  to  God  that  every  minister,  by  abandoning 
the  idea  of  converting  men  by  means  of  "  elegant 
formalities  and  poetic  appeals,"  and  irresolute,  half 
determined  efforts,  and  by  going  about  the  work  in 
downright  earnestness,  would  render  himself  liable 
to  the  same  charge  !  Would  to  God  that  all  classes 
of  Christians  were  in  this  sense  enthusiasts !  Why 
should  they  not  be  in  earnest  ?  Christ  is  in  earnest 
inviting  the  troubled  spirit  to  come  and  find  rest. 
God  is  in  earnest  calling  on  sinners  to  turn  and  live. 
Heaven  is  in  earnest,  the  angels  rejoicing  over  one 
repenting  soul.  And  hell  is  in  earnest,  moving  itself 
for  the  destruction  of  those  whom  you  may  save 
from  the  jaws  of  death. 

Why,  then,  are  you  inactive  ?  Is  it  not  high  time 
to  awake  out  of  sleep  ?  "  O  my  soul,"  exclaims  one, 
"  how  much  blood,  how  much  weeping,  wailing,  and 
gnashing  of  teeth,  will  stand  to  thy  account  in  the 
day  of  judgment ! "  How  much  will  stand  to  your 
account?  Have  not  souls  been  already  lost  through 
your  neglect  ?  Shall  others  be  lost  with  no  prayer, 
or  almsgiving,  or  effort  on  your  part,  for  their  salva 
tion  ?  See !  how  they  hang,  suspended  as  by  a  brit- 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  193 

tie  thread,  over  the  burning  lake!  A  single  blast, 
and  they  fall  to  rise  no  more !  Haste,  and  throw 
thine  arms  around  them,  and  bring  them  to  Jesus  ! 

"  WAKE,  thou  that  sleepest  in  enchanted  bowers, 

Lest  these  lost  years  should  haunt  thee  in  the  night, 

When  death  is  waiting  for  thy  numbered  hours 
To  take  their  swift  and  everlasting  flight ; 

WAKE,  ere  the  earth-born  charm  unnerve  thee  quite, 
And  be  thy  thoughts  to  work  divine  addressed : 

Do  something,  —  do  it  soon,  — -with  all  thy  might ; 
An  angel's  wing  would  droop  if  long  at  rest, 
And  God  himself,  inactive,  were  no  longer  blest" 

17 


CHAPTER   VII. 

SIXTH   GRAND   DEFECT.  —  WANT   OF   INDIVIDUALISM. 

The  most  important  Thought.  —  Each  for  Himself.  —No  serving  God  by 
Proxy.  —  The  Great  Commission.  —  How  interpreted  by  the  first  Con 
verts. —  The  Church  pure  so  long  as  Individualism  was  recognized. — 
The  Germ  of  Popery.  —  Decline  and  Rise  of  Individualism.  —  The 
Principle  not  yet  practically  adopted.  —  Need  of  a  second  Reformation. 
—  Masses  unrenewed.  —  Want  of  Maturity  in  Christians.  —  Want  of 
holy  Joy.  —  Few  Additions  to  Churches.  —  Slumbering  Energies  and 
buried  Talents.  —  A  grand  Device  of  Satan  to  crush  Individualism  un 
der  ponderous  Organisms.  —  Error  as  to  Relation  of  Ministers  and  Lay 
men.  —  Successful  Pastors  aided  by  private  Members.  —  Where  lies 
the  Strength  of  Spiritual  Army.  —  Necessity  of  Individualism  in 
large  Cities.  —  Lay  Agency  too  much  lost  sight  of.  —  Oncken  and  the 
German  Churches.  —  Lay  Missionaries.  —  Consequences  of  coming 
Activity.  —  Upon  Christian  Character  and  Enjoyment.  —  Upon  Spread 
of  Gospel  and  the  Conversion  of  the  World.  —  Responsibility  of  Minis 
ters  as  to  its  Increase.  —  Home  Thoughts. 

It  is  said  that  the  late  distinguished  statesman, 
Daniel  Webster,  was  once  asked,  "  What  is  the 
most  important  thought  that  ever  occupied  your 
mind  ?  "  and  that  he  replied,  with  the  deepest  seri 
ousness,  "  The  most  important  thought  that  ever 
occupied  my  mind,  was  the  thought  of  my  individual 
responsibility  to  God" 

Every  man,  singly  and  for  himself,  is  held  ac 
countable  to  God.  He  is  a  distinct  being.  Born 

(194) 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  195 

apart,  apart  he  dies,  and  he  stands  apart  at  the  judg 
ment-seat  of  Christ. 

"  Each,  as  if  lie  alone  were  there, 
Stood  up  and  won  or  lost  his  soul." 

And  so  of  every  thing  pertaining  to  religion.  A 
man's  acts  are  reckoned  as  his  own,  though  he  were 
influenced  never  so  much  in  their  performance  by 
others.  His  duties  may  not  be  laid  over  upon 
another;  nor  can  there  be  a  transfer  of  conscience. 
Between  his  own  spirit  and  his  God,  no  one  may 
interpose,  no  one  can  assume  responsibility.  ^  He  is 
to  repent  for  himself,  believe  for  himself,  live  for  him 
self,  and  finally  for  himself  stand  or  fall. 

It  is  precisely  in  this  light  that  Christianity  con 
templates  man.  It  views  him  in  his  individual 
capacity.  The  gospel  comes  to  one  alone,  and  saves 
that  single  man,  and  holds  him  responsible  for  cer 
tain  duties.  It  converts  the  individual.  Other  relig 
ions  seek  to  convert  men  by  masses.  Resort  is  had 
to  the  edict,  and  the  sword,  that  as  nations  they  may 
at  once  submit.  But  the  religion  of  Christ  converts 
men  one  by  one,  —  sanctifying  a  single  heart,  re 
forming  a  single  life,  elevating  a  single  character, — 
and  thus  operates  upward  and  outward  through  the 
mass  of  humanity ;  just  as  the  particle  of  leaven,  to 
which  it  is  likened,  operates  upon  the  particle  lying 
next  to  itself,  and  it  upon  another,  until  the  whole 
lump  is  leavened. 

Each  individual  has  assigned  to  him  of  God,  a 
given  position  and  specific  duties.  The  church  of 
Christ  contains  within  itself  a  post  for  every  man, 
which  he  has  no  right  to  abandon.  There  is  no  pro- 


196  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

vision  made  for  idlers.  The  men  of  wealth  may 
not  '  buy  off  their  personal  services  by  the  bribe  of 
large  donations,'  nor  may  the  indigent  or  "  men  of 
low  estate,"  because  of  the  "  one  talent,"  refuse  to 
occupy  till  the  Lord  shall  come.  There  is  no  pro 
vision  by  which  a  man  may  depute  another  to  serve 
God  for  him,  and  thus  be  released  from  personal 
duties.  He  might  as  soon  pray  by  proxy,  and  dele 
gate  to  another  the  act  of  repentance.  He  is  to  be 
himself  a  discipler,  and  with  his  own  body  and  spirit 
glorify  God. 

Such  is  the  individualism  which  constitutes  a  fixed 
principle  in  Christ's  kingdom.  It  is  known  to  be 
such  from  the  Scriptures  of  divine  truth,  the  only 
standard  of  appeal.  There  the  accountability  of  the 
individual  is  everywhere  recognized. 

Let  us  view  it  as  related  to  Christian  effort  for  the 
salvation  of  sinners.  It  is  observable  in  the  great 
commission  of  our  ascended  Lord :  "  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature," 
(Mark  16  :  15) ;  or,  as  recorded  by  Matthew,  "  Go  ye, 
therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  —  and,  lo,  I  am  with 
you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  (Matt. 
28:  19). 

In  substance  this  commission  is  the  same,  though 
in  form  it  differs ;  and  it  binds  every  follower  of 
Christ  to  the  work  of  evangelization.  Upon  a  super 
ficial  examination  of  the  circumstances  under  which 
it  was  given,  it  might  appear  to  have  been  restricted 
to  the  chosen  apostles.  Indeed,  by  some,  it  is  so 
considered ;  but  without  foundation.  It  is  true,  that 
in  the  instance  referred  to  by  Mark,  it  was  given  to 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  197 

"the  eleven ;n  but  it  is  also  highly  probable,  if  not 
absolutely  certain,  that  on  another  occasion,  it  was 
given  to  the  disciples  as  such.* 

It  may  be  added,  however,  that  the  commission 
should  by  no  means  be  viewed  or  restricted  to  the 
apostles,  even  on  the  supposition  that  it  was  given 
to  them  alone ;  for  many  of  our  Lord's  instructions, 
such  as  those  delivered  at  the  last  supper,  for  exam 
ple,  were  given  to  them  alone,  but  are  universally 
considered  as  of  general  application.  We  may 
therefore  justly  conclude  that  the  command  to  go 
and  teach,  —  to  disciple  men,  —  was  addressed  to  no 
set  of  men  exclusively,  but  to  believers  as  such ;  to 
the  individuals  who  loved  their  Lord  then  present, 
and  to  an  equal  extent,  to  every  follower  of  Christ  in 
all  time. 

Hence  it  was  that  all  of  the  immediate  converts 
to  the  true  faith,  did  go  forth  spreading  the  news  of 
the  great  salvation.  They,  surely,  were  prepared  to 
interpret  the  true  bearings  of  the  commission ;  and, 
acting  under  it,  as  soon  as  they  were  converted,  they 
began  to  preach  the  gospel  to  others.  "  At  that  time 
there  was  a  great  persecution  against  the  church 
that  was  at  Jerusalem,  and  they  were  scattered 
abroad  throughout  all  the  regions  of  Judea  and 
Samaria,  except  the  apostles."  And  we  are  then 
told  that,  "  Therefore  they  that  were  scattered  abroad, 
went  everywhere  preaching  the  word,"  (Acts  8:  1,4). 
It  is  further  stated  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  that 
"  they  that  were  scattered  abroad  upon  the  persecu- 

*  See  an  able  discussion  of  this  subject  in  Notes  to  Harmony 
of  Gospels,  by  Dr.  Edward  Robinson.     Part  IX. 
17* 


198  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

tion  that  arose  about  Stephen,  travelled  as  far  as 
Phenice  and  Cyprus  and  Antioch,  "preaching  the 
word  to  none  but  Jews  only."  Men  of  Cyprus  and 
Gyrene,  are  also  mentioned  as  "  preaching  the  Lord 
Jesus,"  though  they  were  neither  apostles  nor  original 
disciples.  And  to  just  such  preaching,  is  to  be  as 
cribed  the  founding  of  many  of  the  early  churches. 

But  besides  these  Scriptures,  which  so  distinctly 
bring  to  view  individual  obligation  in  the  work 
of  the  gospel,  notice  our  Saviour's  intercessory 
prayer :  in  which  he  not  only  supplicates  favors  for 
those  who  then  loved  him,  but  also  for  those  who 
should  "  believe  through  their  word ; "  assuming  that 
they,  severally,  were  to  make  known  to  others  the 
way  of  life  eternal. 

And  again  ;  when  long  after  this  the  Saviour  made, 
through  the  beloved  disciple,  a  revelation  of  things 
to  come,  what  importance  is  assigned  to  this  feature 
of  his  holy  religion !  "  The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say, 
Come  :  and  let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come !  "  Let 
him  say,  let  each  one,  personally,  take  up,  and  send 
along  down,  through  all  time,  the  blessed  invitation 
to  "  Come,"  and  "  take  the  water  of  life  freely." 

And  is  it  not  interesting  to  observe  that  the  fullest 
and  sweetest  promises  and  rewards  for  Christian 
faithfulness  are  given  as  if  intended  to  encourage 
this  individual  activity?  It  is  not  said  the  church 
that  "  converteth  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways," 
but  "  he  that  converteth"  him,  shall  hide  a  multitude 
of  sins,  and  save  a  soul  from  death.  Nor  is  it  written, 
the  company r,  but  "he  that  goeth  forth  weeping,  bear 
ing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  return  bringing  his 
sheaves  with  him."  Nor  will  it  be  said,  in  the  last 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  199 

day,  "  Well  done  thou  good  and  faithful"  congrega 
tion,  but  "  well  done  thou  good  and  faithful  ser 
vant,  —  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  the  Lord."  Is 
there  anywhere  bestowed  upon  any  company  of 
persons,  a  commendation  equal  to  that  awarded  to  a 
single  individual,  and  that  individual,  too,  a  woman? 
"  She  hath  done  wliat  she  could" 

Luther  used  to  thank  God  for  those  little  words, 
my,  thee,  thou,  thy,  me,  which  are  so  profusely 
scattered  through  the  Scriptures,  —  "  The  Lord  is  my 
rock,"  "my  fortress,"  "my  deliverer;"  "  When  thou 
passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee ; "  "  I 
will  be  thy  God ; "  "  Thou  shalt  guide  me  by  thy 
counsel,  and  afterward  receive  me  to  glory ; "  —  and 
they  only  show  how  personal  are  the  blessings  and 
duties  of  the  great  salvation. 

Moreover,  it  will  be  well  to  notice  the  expressive 
language  of  Christ,  as  applied  to  his  followers  :  "  Ye 
are  the  salt  of  the  earth."  From  the  very  figure, 
their  conservative  influence  is  not  to  be  exerted  in 
the  form  of  large,  compact  bodies,  so  much  as  in  the 
capacity  of  individuals ;  spread,  like  grains  of  salt, 
all  over  and  throughout  society,  each  loaded  with 
heavenly  grace,  and  contributing  his  part  toward 
preserving  the  world  from  moral  corruption.  All  this 
is  in  beautiful  harmony  with  a  feature  of  the  divine 
economy  before  referred  to,  —  the  plan  of  increasing 
the  ranks  of  our  heavenly  King.  "  Ye  shall  be 
gathered  one  by  one,  O  ye  children  of  Israel,"  says 
God.  And  so  it  has  always  been.  Christ  did  not 
count  his  converts  by  thousands,  as  some  one  has 
admirably  remarked,  nor  by  hundreds,  nor  yet  by 
tens ;  but  he  counted  them  by  units,  saying,  "  There 


200  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one 
sinner  that  repenteth."  How  reasonable,  that  as 
results  are  to  be  personal  and  distinct,  the  operating 
causes  should  be  so  likewise. 

Now  let  it  be  carefully  observed,  that,  as  long  as 
this  principle  obtained  in  the  early  church,  —  as  long 
as  there  was  kept  alive  a  sense  of  individual  respon 
sibility,  and  religion  was  considered  to  be  a  personal 
matter,  or,  in  the  affecting  language  of  one  of  the 
Platonists,  "  The  flight  of  one  alone  to  the  only  One" 
and  as  long  as  it  manifested  itself  in  individual 
activity,  —  so  long  was  the  church  characterized  for 
its  purity  and  prosperity.  But  just  in  proportion  as 
the  opposite  principle  gained  the  ascendency,  and 
the  individual  became  absorbed  in  the  community, 
the  private  member  into  the  official,  and  men  began 
to  serve  God  by  proxy,  just  in  that  proportion  the 
church  became  powerless  and  corrupt. 

A  learned  writer  remarks,  that  if  he  were  asked, 
"to  what  it  is  owing,  chiefly,  that  the  early  triumphs 
of  the  gospel  were  arrested,  —  how  it  was  that 
Christian  usefulness  died  out  of  the  world,  and 
piety  out  of  the  church,"  —  he  would  suggest  that 
it  was  to  be  ascribed  "  principally  to  that  master 
device  of  Satan  by  which  the  Christian  professor 
was  led  to  suppose  that  he  could  do  every  thing  by 
proxy;  that  there  was  an  order  of  men,  on  whom, 
for  a  certain  consideration,  he  could  devolve  his 
duties  both  to  God  and  man."  Who  needs  to  be 
told  that  this  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  germ 
of  popery? — that  thus  early,  and  in  precisely  this 
way,  "the  mystery  of  iniquity"  began  to  develop 
itself. 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  201 

What  is  the  essence  of  popery  but  '  finding  a 
price  for  every  duty,  and  discharging  from  every 
claim  of  personal  accountableness  ? '  What  is  the 
genius  of  popery  but  taking  away  the  conscience 
and  the  will,  and  putting  the  'judgment  and  soul 
under  the  lock  of  the  confessional,  or  carrying  them 
about  under  the  frock  of  a  bishop  or  priest  ? '  What 
is  the  system  of  popery  but  one  vast  consolidation, 
where  all  power  is  concentrated  into  one  poor  mor 
tal,  and  the  several  parts  are  but  cogs  and  pins  per 
forming  their  functions  in  absolute  subordination  to 
the  supreme,  central  will  ? 

From  the  fourth  to  the  sixteenth  centuries,  this 
gigantic  evil  overspread  most  parts  of  Christendom, 
and  smothered  out  its  religious  life.  The  nominal 
church  was  little  less  than  a  dead  carcass,  splendid, 
indeed,  and  imposing  without,  but  full  of  corruption 
within. 

The  reign  of  death  was  partially  interrupted  by 
the  Reformation  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Individual 
opinion  and  action  became  again  apparent,  and  the 
Christian  stood  out  once  more,  here  and  there,  as  a 
distinct,  responsible  agent,  accountable  to  no  human 
being  in  the  concerns  of  religion,  but  personally  and 
strictly  accountable  to  God. 

Under  the  preaching  of  Bunyan  and  Baxter  and 
Flavel,  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  of  Wesley  and 
Whitefield,  Doddridge  and  Edwards,  the  Erskines 
and  Tennents,  and  others  of  the  eighteenth,  this 
tendency  toward  independent  and  direct  effort  on  the 
part  of  professing  Christians  was  greatly  stimulated ; 
and  since  then,  there  have  been  found  in  the  churches 
not  a  few  who  have  addressed  themselves,  in  the 


202  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

spirit  of  primitive  times,  to  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
Their  number,  however,  has  not  proportionally  kept 
pace  with  the  increase  of  the  avowed  disciples  of 
Christ ;  and  practically  the  great  principle  of  individ 
ual  responsibility  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  remains 
yet  to  be  generally  recognized.  Practically,  there 
needs  to  be  a  second  reformation  from  popery.  Prot 
estantism  itself,  in  this  regard,  needs  to  be  reformed. 
"  It  is  high  time,"  as  has  been  well  remarked,  "  to 
inquire,  from  how  much  of  that  enormous  system 
(the  papacy)  we  have  been  rescued.  For  just  as 
much  of  it  as  still  cleaves  to  us,  by  just  so  much  are 
we  effectually  disabled  from  doing  the  first  works 
and  emulating  the  first  days  of  the  Christian  church." 
"  Now,  judging  from  the  past,"  it  is  added,  "we 
should  say,  that  the  Reformation  rescued  us  from 
only  one  half  of  the  evil,  —  from  that  part  which 
blinded  men  to  a  sense  of  their  personal  concern  in 
the  affairs  of  their  own  salvation.  But  while  the 
Protestant  wonders  at  the  infatuation  of  the  papist 
in  imagining  that  any  thing  can  exempt  him  from 
the  necessity  of  personal  diligence  in  seeking  his 
own  salvation,  are  not  we  the  objects  of  equal  won 
der  in  acting  so  generally  as  if  we  thought  any  thing 
could  exempt  us  from  the  duty  of  personal  activity 
in  seeking  the  salvation  of  others?  If  the  one  is 
essential  popery,  equally  so,  in  spirit,  is  the  other 
also.  Glorious,  therefore,  as  the  Reformation  was 
for  the  church,  in  rescuing  its  members  from  the 
grasp  of  a  spiritual  despotism,  and  making  each  one 
feel  the  necessity  of  personal  faith  and  personal  holi 
ness,  as  glorious  will  that  reformation  be  for  the 
world  which  shall  complete  the  work  of  deliverance, 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  203 

by  rescuing  them  also  from  the  grasp  of  selfishness, 
and  making  each  one  feel  his  own  accountability  to 
God  for  personal  activity  in  the  work  of  human 
salvation."  How  surprising  that  Christians  of  the 
United  States,  who  understand  so  well  the  essential 
individualism  of  republicanism,  should  feel  so  little 
the  essential  individualism  of  protestantism,  —  of 
Christianity  ! 

That  there  does  exist  a  lamentable  deficiency  of 
this  kind  of  Christian  effort,  is  painfully  obvious. 
Its  evidence  is  furnished  in  the  fact  that  the  masses 
of  men,  in  immediate  proximity  to  the  church  of 
Christ,  are  still  unsanctified  and  unrenewed.  Is 
there  any  defect  in  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed 
God  ?  Is  not  its  adaptedness,  to  the  end  designed, 
the  same  in  all  ages  ?  Does  it  not  ever  remain  the 
wisdom  of  God,  and  the  power  of  God  unto  salva 
tion  ?  Is  there  any  unwillingness,  or  want  of  power, 
on  the  part  of  the  Spirit,  whose  office  work  it  is  to 
renew  the  soul  ?  As  in  his  first  descent  to  our  guilty 
world,  is  he  not  almighty  to  save  ?  And  if  neither 
in  the  word  nor  the  Spirit,  then  is  the  defect  in  the 
churches.  Their  ministers  are  doubtless  responsible, 
in  part,  for  the  existing  state  of  things ;  but  in  the 
bosom  of  the  churches  themselves  lies  a  principal 
fault.  And  that  fault  is  a  lack  of  personal  consecra 
tion  to  the  one  work  of  leading  souls  to  Christ. 

Evidence  to  the  same  effect  is  furnished  in  the 
want  of  maturity  and  moral  power  in  the  majority  of 
professors.  Every  disciple  of  Christ  is  required  to  be 
in  possession  of  that  vigor  and  manliness  of  charac 
ter,  that  will  fit  him  for  enduring  hardness  as  a  good 
soldier  of  the  cross.  He  is  to  attain  "  unto  a  perfect 


204  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

man ;  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness 
of  Christ,"  —  and  'speaking  the  truth  in  love,  grow 
up  into  him  in  all  things  which  is  the  head  even 
Christ ;  from  whom  the  whole  body,  fitly  joined 
together,  and  compacted  by  that  which  every  joint 
supplieth,  according  to  the  effectual  working  in  the 
measure  of  every  part,  maketh  increase  of  the  body 
unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in  love.' 

But  alas,  to  how  many  does  the  rebuke  apply, 
"  When  for  the  time  ye  ought  to  be  teachers,  ye  have 
need  that  one  teach  you  again,  —  and  are  become 
such  as  have  need  of  milk,  and  not  of  strong  meat ! " 
And  why  this  want  of  a  proper  and  symmetrical  de 
velopment  of  character,  —  this  well  proportioned  and 
thoroughly  compacted  moral  constitution  ?  Is  it  for 
want  of  a  sufficient  supply  of  spiritual  food,  on 
which  they  might  grow  and  thrive  ?  So  far  is  this 
from  being  the  case,  that  it  is  to  be  seriously  ques 
tioned,  whether  there  is  not,  in  many  instances,  an 
excess  of  food  administered,  —  whether  the  rage  for 
hearing  sermons  does  not  interfere  with  their  proper 
digestion ;  and  thus  tend  to  produce  feebleness  and 
inefficiency.  Does  not  the  language  of  the  apostle, 
already  referred  to,  indicate  the  true  source  of  this 
evil  ?  Is  it  not  because  their  senses  or  powers  are 
not  "  exercised  by  reason  of  use,"  —  because  there  is 
not  that  '  effectual  working  of  every  part  that  maketh 
increase  in  the  body  ?  '  In  both  nature  and  grace, 
strength  and  maturity  are  acquired  by  one  unchang 
ing  process  —  activity.  Without  it  the  child  were 
always  a  child.  The  arm  never  acquires  the  bone 
of  iron  and  the  sinew  of  steel  if  restrained  from  use. 
And  so  those  only  who  toil  in  Christ's  vineyard,  — 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  205 

who  abound  "  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,"  —  become 
strong  men,  "  perfect  and  entire,  wanting  nothing." 
There  are  so  many  weak  Christians  because  there 
are  so  few  working  Christians. 

And  again,  do  not  the  frequent  complaints  that 
are  heard  of  a  want  of  spiritual  enjoyment,  evince  a 
general  absence  of  active  effort  in  the  Master's  ser 
vice?  Have  we  reason  to  believe  that  such  com 
plaints  were  common  among  the  early  disciples? 
And  can  it  be  that  our  Father  on  high  has  instituted 
no  means  by  which  we  may  be  continually  happy, 
when  at  the  same  time  he  has  taught  us  to  "  be 
glad  "  in  him,  to  "  rejoice  in  the  Lord  alway,"  and 
that  the  '  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  under 
standing  shall  keep  our  hearts  ? '  Why,  then,  do  the 
children  of  the  King  go  mourning  all  their  days  ?  Is 
it  not  chiefly  owing  to  their  inactivity  ?  Shall  not 
the  willing  and  the  obedient  eat  the  good  of  the 
land  ?  If  we  feed  others,  shall  not  we  be  fed  ?  Is 
not  happiness  always  the  result  of  the  right  action  of 
the  moral  powers?  If  there  is  faithful  well-doing, 
will  there  not  certainly  be  holy  enjoying  ?  Since, 
therefore,  it  is  proverbially  true  of  Christians  in  our 
day,  that  they  do  not  generally  experience  that  per 
petual  flow  of  sweet  enjoyment  which  was  appar 
ently  possessed  by  those  of  apostolic  times,  is  it  not 
evident  that  they  come  far  short  in  active  engaged- 
ness  in  advancing  the  Redeemer's  cause  among 
men? 

And  then  observe,  as  another  evidence  of  a  sad 
defect  in  personal  Christian  effort,  the  few  additions 

18 


206  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

which  are  made  to  the  churches,  by  conversion,  from 
year  to  year.  It  has  been  stated  that  each  mission 
ary  of  the  American  Board  has  been  the  means  of 
the  conversion,  on  an  average,  of  between  three  and 
four  hundred  souls.  And  we  can  readily  conceive 
that,  if  half  the  number  of  professing  Christians  in 
the  United  States  were  transferred  to  heathen  na 
tions  for  the  purpose  of  their  conversion,  we  should 
expect  that  they  would  very  speedily  be  the  means 
of  converting  the  whole  world  to  Christ. 

But  why  should  so  much  more  be  expected  of 
Christians  in  India  or  China  than  in  the  United 
States?  Are  those  who  go  far  hence  to  the  gen 
tiles,  under  any  more  sacred  obligations  to  put  forth 
earnest  efforts  to  save  souls,  than  are  those  who  re 
main  at  home  ?  And  is  the  salvation  of  an  ignorant 
and  degraded  heathen  a  matter  of  less  difficulty  than 
that  of  an  enlightened  neighbor,  who  stands  in  the 
same  need  of  being  led  to  Christ  ?  Why,  then,  do 
no  more  conversions  occur  ?  Why  do  large  churches, 
for  many  years  together,  receive  almost  no  acces 
sions  from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  ?  Why  are  there 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  Christians  who  have  yet 
to  become  the  direct  instrumentality  in  the  conversion 
of  the  first  soul  ? 

There  can  be  but  one  response  to  interrogatories 
like  these.  It  is  owing  to  a  culpable  neglect  of  the 
duty  of  engaging  personally  in  direct  and  persever 
ing  endeavors  to  persuade  men  to  become  reconciled 
to  God. 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  painful  evi 
dences  of  this  neglect.  Where  do  we  not  behold 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  207 

them?  From  every  point  of  observation  the  con 
viction  forces  itself  upon  the  mind,  that  the  mass  of 
professed  Christians  are  "at  ease  in  Zion."  What 
an  immense  assemblage  of  undeveloped  resources 
does  the  church  of  Christ  present !  Who  can  con 
template  it  without  being  impressed  with  the  idea  of 
a  prodigious  latent  energy,  —  a  reserved  force,  of 
whose  utmost  power  it  is  impossible  to  form  any 
adequate  conception. 

It  has  been  estimated  by  men  of  intelligent  and 
careful  minds,  that  "  not  more  than  one  fifth  of  all 
who  bear  the  name  of  Protestant  Christians,  add 
any  thing  of  perceptible  importance  to  the  efficiency 
of  the  church,  in  the  work  of  the  world's  conver 
sion."  From  the  nature  of  the  case  there  must  be 
somewhat  of  conjecture  in  such  an  estimate ;  but 
under  the  most  favorable  aspect,  how  painful  is  the 
sight  of  the  slumbering  energies  and  buried  talents 
in  all  our  churches ! 

Where  are  the  pious  lawyers,  physicians,  mer 
chants,  mechanics,  farmers,  and  statesmen,  who 
daily,  hourly  watch  for  opportunities  of  doing  some 
thing  for  Christ  ?  True,  here  and  there  one  of  this 
character  appears,  and  we  have  a  Williams,  Page, 
Cranfield,  Mary  Lyon.  But  the  very  prominence  of 
such  individuals  is  proof  of  the  inactivity  of  those 
around  them.  How  many  pastors  mourn  over  the 
want  of  that  cooperation  which  they  might  enjoy ! 
How  many  irreligious  men  and  neighborhoods  need 
the  pious  efforts  which  might  be  bestowed ! 

Societies  are  too  often  looked  upon  as  substitutes 
for  personal  labors.  It  has  been  remarked  that  no 
illusion  is  more  common,  both  in  civil  and  sacred 


208  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

things,  than  for  membership  to  weaken  the  sense  of 
responsibility,  and  even  to  cause  an  oblivion  of  indi 
viduality.  But,  was  it  the  design  of  Christ  that  the 
church  should  absorb  the  individual?  For  what  are 
any  combinations  formed  ?  Not  to  neutralize  the 
personal  element,  but  to  render  it  more  effective. 
Does  not  the  efficiency  of  the  whole  body  depend 
upon  that  of  its  several  parts?  Men  talk  of  the 
religion  of  the  church,  and  the  duty  of  the  church ; 
but  what  is  this,  if  used  intelligently,  but  speaking 
of  the  piety  and  obligations  of  the  individual  mem 
bers  of  which  the  church  is  composed  ? 

And  yet  under  this  very  illusion,  that  the  church 
has  some  responsibility,  separate  from  that  of  its 
individual  parts,  many  excuse  themselves  from  per 
sonal  labor.  This  is  one  of  Satan's  deep  devices. 
For,  let  it  not  be  forgotten,  the  adversary  of  God 
and  man  is  still  plying  his  devices  for  the  overthrow 
of  Christ's  kingdom.  Instead  of  abating  his  efforts, 
they  are  more  artful  and  persistent,  as  he  knows  his 
time  is  short,  and  not  seldom  as  an  angel  of  light. 
Alas,  that  he  should  succeed  so  w-ell  as  to  blind  the 
eyes  of  men  to  the  very  fact  of  his  existence :  and 
induce,  even  in  Christians,  a  forgetfulness,  if  not  a 
distrust  of  the  fearful  truth  that  as  "  a  roaring  lion," 
he  walketh  about  "  seeking  whom  he  may  devour !  " 
Did  he  so  beset  the  Master,  —  and  will  he  deal 
gently  with  the  servants  ?  Did  he  succeed  so  fear 
fully  in  the  revolt  of  the  angels,  and  in  the  fall  in 
Eden,  —  and  has  he  become  harmless  now  ?  It  is  at 
our  peril  that  we  believe  it !  And  of  all  his  devices 
no  one  is  more  artfully  planned,  and  more  widely 
successful,  than  that  of  crushing'  individualism  under 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  209 

some  ponderous  organism.  Little  does  he  care  how 
much  we  make  of  the  church,  only  so  the  individual 
is  lost  sight  of,  and  left  inactive.  It  is  distinct, 
direct,  and  diligent  effort  on  the  part  of  men  and 
women  who  are  zealous  for  Christ,  that  gives  him 
most  concern. 

Besides  this  practical  error  in  reference  to  church- 
membership,  there  is  one  equally  prevalent  and  per 
nicious,  as  regards  the  relation  of  ministers  and  pri 
vate  members  in  the  work  of  the  gospel.  The  error 
consists  in  looking  upon  ministers  as  principally,  if 
not  exclusively,  intrusted  with  the  concerns  of  relig 
ion.  Under  the  old,  preparatory  dispensation  of 
Christianity,  this  was  truly  the  case.  Here,  a  cere 
monial  holiness  and.  exclusiveness  belonged  to  the 
official  persons ;  and  it  was  "  profanation  for  any 
mortal,  save  the  anointed  son  of  Levi,  to  touch  the 
vessels  of  the  local  worship."  In  the  Romish  creed, 
too,  and  in  those  which  are  patterned  after  it,  the 
clergy  are  a  class  above  and  aside  from  all  other 
men.  To  their  medium  of  conveyance  is  restricted 
the  communication  of  all  grace.  According  to  this 
theory,  God  bestows  the  Spirit  through  sacramental 
channels,  and  has  placed  in  priestly  hands  "  the  ex 
clusive  patent  for  saving  souls." 

Now,  while  in  theory  all  evangelical  Christians 
pronounce  this  a  gross  impertinence,  and  a  most 
dangerous  error,  is  it  not  by  many  practically  enter-* 
tained,  only  in  a  modified  form?  Perhaps  uncon 
sciously,  but  nevertheless  in  fact,  they  look  upon  the 
propagation  of  religion  as  a  professional  matter, 
with  which  they  have  little  or  nothing  to  do.  The 
language  of  their  heart  is,  Let  the  men  who  are 

18" 


210  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

ordained  to  preach,  and  administer  the  sacraments 
of  the  Lord's  house,  and  attend  to  the  affairs  of  re 
ligion,  fulfil  the  duties  of  their  office.  I  will  be  a 
faithful  recipient  of  the  word,  and  give  of  my  sub 
stance  to  provide  for  its  ministration  ;  and  that  is  as 
far  as  my  duty  extends  in  the  matter  of  gathering 
souls  to  Christ.  The  rest  the  ministers  will  attend 
to  :  that  is  their  business. 

Can  any  one  pretend  to  justify  this  from  the  Scrip 
tures  ?  Can  any  one  assign  a  reason  for  believing 
that  he  is  not  under  as  real  an  obligation  to  plan  and 
conduct  the  affairs  of  life  with  direct  reference  to  the 
promotion  of  religion,  as  is  any  preacher  ?  It  may 
be  alleged  that  preaching  is  God's  chief  instrumen 
tality  in  saving  souls.  And  this  is  true ;  but  ivhat 
kind  of  preaching,  and  by  whom  ?  Is  it  not,  as  some 
one  has  in  substance  observed,  the  preaching  of 
Philip  in  the  chariot,  as  well  as  of  Peter  to  the 
assembled  thousands?  —  the  preaching  of  the  dis 
persed  disciples,  as  well  as  of  the  seventy?  —  the 
preaching  of  the  way-side  and  the  fireside,  as  well 
as  the  preaching  in  the  great  congregation  ?  —  the 
preaching  of  Dorcas,  and  Phebe,  and  Mary,  and 
Priscilla,  as  well  as  of  the  chosen  apostle  to  the 
gentiles  ? 

There  are  many  ways  of  preaching  Christ  without 
choosing  a  text,  and  standing  in  a  pulpit ;  and  it  is 
iiot  so  much  of  pulpit  as  of  pew  preaching,  that  the 
world  has  need  at  the  present  time.  Many  ministers 
of  great  eminence  for  their  success  in  promoting  the 
conversion  of  men,  have  been  largely  indebted  to 
this  outside  preaching  of  their  private  brethren.  To 
this,  Wesley  owed  his  success  in  no  small  degree. 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  211 

"  He  encouraged  the  labors  of  the  pious  in  every  di 
rection,  .  .  .  and  by  this  means,  under  the  divine 
blessing,  he  increased  his  own  usefulness  a  thousand 
fold  ;  and  instead  of  operating  individually,  ...  he 
became  the  director  of  a  vast  system,  which  remained 
at  work  in  his  personal  absence,  and  was  continually 
pouring  into  the  church  its  contributions  of  conquest 
from  the  world."  Richard  Baxter  is  another  exam 
ple.  The  wonderful  change  that  occurred  in  that 
once  wicked  field  of  his  labors  (Kidderminster),  was 
not  produced  by  his  preaching  alone.  Himself  and 
the  converts  already  gained,  made  thorough  work  in 
visiting,  like  Paul,  from  house  to  house,  and  address 
ing  individuals  and  families  upon  the  subject  of  their 
soul's  salvation.  Without  ready  and  active  brethren 
to  second  his  endeavors,  the  strongest  minister  is 
weak,  and  with  them,  the  weakest  is  strong. 

The  church  is  God's  spiritual  army,  and  his  min 
isters  are  to  marshal  the  hosts  "  against  the  mighty." 
"  But  what  are  generals  without  the  rank  and  file  ? 
Success  depends  scarcely  less  upon  the  valor  of  the 
individual  soldiers,  than  upon  the  wisdom  of  the  offi 
cers.  The  conqueror  of  the  world  caused  to  be  in 
scribed  upon  the  spoils  taken  on  one  occasion  from 
the  enemy,  "  Alexander,  son  of  Philip,  WITH  THE 
GREEKS,  (the  Lacedemonians  excepted,)  gained  these 
spoils  from  the  barbarians  who  inhabit  Asia"  His 
army,  we  are  told  by  the  historian,  were  "  all  brave 
men,"  each  of  them  "  in  case  of  necessity  capable  of 
commanding."  It  was  not  Napoleon  and  his  aids 
alone  that  won  the  day  in  his  great  battles  ;  but  the 
well-drilled  regiments, — the  "  heavy  battalions."  And 


212  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

so  in  things  spiritual.  If  the  enemy  is  to  be  routed, 
it  is  not  only  needful  that  there  be  zeal  and  prudence 
in  the  leaders,  but  there  must  be  valiant  men,  stand 
ing  round  about  them,  each  one  feeling  and  acting 
as  though  the  victory  depended,  under  God,  upon 
the  weight  of  his  single  arm. 

We  have  an  evil  to  contend  with,  '  so  gigantic  in 
its  strength,  so  diffused  in  its  influence  on  all  sides 
of  us,  and  so  infectious  and  malignant  in  its  efforts, 
that  nothing  short  of  the  engagement,  the  energies, 
and  the  earnestness,  of  the  whole  church  can  cope 
with  it.  The  whole  church  must  be  employed  for 
the  conversion  of  the  whole  country.  The  levy  en 
masse  must  be  called  out.  The  enemy  is  coming  in 
like  a  flood ;'  infidelity  and  immorality  are  invading 
us  ;  the  tocsin  must  be  rung ;  the  beacon  fire  must  be 
kindled  on  every  hill  of  Zion ;  the  sound  must  float 
from  every  tower  and  every  battlement,  "  To  arms, 
to  arms ! "  and  every  man  that  can  shoulder  a  musket 
or  bear  a  pike  must  take  the  field  and  array  himself 
against  the  foe.  Not  a  single  member  of  a  single 
church,  male,  or  female,  old  or  young,  rich  or  poor, 
but  ought  to  be  engaged  in  personal  exertion.' 

The  necessity  of  supplying-  the  defect  which  we 
have  now  seen  to  exist,  demands  attention  for  a  mo 
ment  more.  Take  an  intelligent  view  of  our  large 
cities.  Those  great  centres  of  wealth  and  influence, 
powerfully  affect,  either  for  good  or  evil,  the  whole 
country.  The  population  of  the  city  of  New  York 
is  estimated  at  upwards  of  six  hundred  thousand. 
Now  for  this  population  there  are  but  about  three 
hundred  evangelical  preachers,  'whose  time  is  given 
exclusively  to  the  ministry.  This  would  give  to  each 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  213 

minister  the  care  of  two  thousand  souls.  And  what 
man  is  able  to  do  any  thing  like  justice  to  so  numer 
ous  a  charge,  especially  with  the  crushing  responsi 
bilities  and  constant  interruptions  incident  to  a  city 
pastorate  ?  Even  if  they  all  were  attendants,  each 
Sabbath,  upon  the  public  services,  it  were  insuffi 
cient  to  meet  their  spiritual  necessities.  But  it  is 
stated,  as  we  have  previously  seen,*  that  one  third  of 
this  population  is  not  accessible  to  the  ordinary  min 
istrations  of  the  clergy.  Now  how  shall  these  two 
hundred  thousand  persons  be  operated  upon  ?  How 
shall  they  be  reached  ?  It  is  simply  preposterous  to 
suppose  that  it  can  be  accomplished  by  the  regularly 
ordained  ministers.  Mr.  Mann,  who  has  had  in 
charge  the  religious  department  of  the  census  of 
Great  Britain,  insists  that  an  adequate  clerical  force 
cannot  be  maintained  for  the  large  cities.  The  sim 
ple  truth  is,  no  clerical  force  can  be  adequate ;  for, 
not  to  dwell  upon  the  fact  that  a  large  proportion  of 
those  who  never  frequent  the  sanctuary,  are  opposed 
to  every  thing  religious,  and  bitterly  prejudiced 
against  the  clergy,  —  which  virtually  precludes  their 
approaching  them  even,  —  let  it  be  borne  in  mind 
that  during  the  entire  day  most  of  these  people  are 
busily  engaged  in  their  respective  employments, — 
some  in  the  counting-houses,  some  in  the  shops  and 
manufactories,  some  on  the  wharves,  some  in  the 
streets,  —  and  are,  therefore,  rarely  found  at  home, 
(if  indeed  they  have  any,)  or  found  anywhere,  under 
such  circumstances  as  to  render  it  possible  for  a 

*  Chapter  I.  p.  23. 


214  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

stranger  to  approach  them,  and  enter  upon  profitable 
religious  conversation. 

We  say  again,  it  is  in  vain  to  look  to  any  regularly 
ordained  ministry  as  adequate  to  meet  this  necessity. 
Nor  was  it  ever  designed  to  be  met  in  this  way. 
God  never  intended  that  the  ministry  should  do  all 
the  work  of  the  churches.  There  can  be  no  condition 
of  society  where  they  will  be  sufficient  to  perform  it. 
Nor  will  the  building  of  more  church  edifices  meet 
the  difficulty,  for  most  of  these  people  do  not  feel 
the  need  of  religious  instruction,  and  therefore  would 
not  avail  themselves  of  such  accommodations. 

If  this  class  of  the  population  is  to  be  religiously 
influenced,  it  must  be,  principally,  by  lay  agency. 
Through  this  means  it  can  be  influenced,  and  that 
powerfully.  Let  the  lay  members  of  the  churches 
avail  themselves  of  the  favorable  opportunities  which 
Sabbaths  afford  for  reaching  these  persons ;  and  go 
out  to  meet  them  in  the  public  grounds,  at  the  cor 
ners  of  the  streets,  and  in  their  houses.  Let  them 
gather  the  children  into  Sunday  Schools,  and  the 
parents  into  small  congregations  wherever  a  few 
could  be  collected;  let  them  there,  and  more  pri 
vately,  converse  with  them  kindly  upon  the  things  of 
religion,  and  talk  to  them  of  a  blessed  Jesus,  and  a 
glorious  heaven,  giving  them  the  tract  and  the  Bible, 
and  following  them  with  their  prayers,  and  they 
would  bring  to  bear  an  untold  influence  for  good. 

Take  another  view  of  the  case.  Suppose  that 
each  professing  Christian  were  on  the  watch  for  a 
favorable  moment  to  drop  a  word  for  Christ,  during 
the  weekday  employments.  Suppose  that  after  his 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  215 

morning  prayers  in  the  closet  and  at  the  family  altar, 
he  were  to  go  forth,  with  a  heart  full  of  love,  hoping 
and  praying  that  he  might  bless  some  poor  soul  be 
fore  the  setting  sun.  O,  who  could  estimate  the 
moral  power  of  a  few  thousands  of  such  Christians 
upon  the  masses  of  unconverted  men  ? 

Perhaps  there  is  scarcely  an  individual  in  that 
neglected  portion  of  the  community  alluded  to,  who 
does  not  come  into  contact  with  a  disciple  of  Christ 
almost  daily.  Thousands  of  them  are  in  the  employ 
of  pious  builders,  and  merchants,  and  manufacturers, 
whose  advantages  and  responsibilities  for  doing  them 
good  are  every  way  important.  Many  of  them  have 
pious  shop  mates  and  companions ;  and  all,  more  or 
less  frequently,  meet  and  mingle  with  those  who 
bear  the  Christian  name.  What  opportunities,  then, 
have  pious  laymen  for  impressing  with  the  truths  of 
religion  the  minds  of  those  whom  ministers  cannot 
reach ! 

The  truth  is,  lay-agency  has  been  too  much  lost 
sight  of.  Altogether  too  little  is  said  and  written  con 
cerning  it.  It  is  an  omen  for  good,  that  it  is  begin 
ning  to  attract  attention.  The  English  statistician, 
above  alluded  to,  particularly  mentions  the  fact  that 
the  Wesleyans  of  England  have  "  twenty  thousand 
preachers  and  class-leaders,  not  belonging  to  the 
ministerial  order."  Many  have  witnessed  with  sur 
prise,  the  statements  that  are  made  of  the  wonderful 
success  of  the  gospel  in  connection  with  the  labors 
of  Mr.  Oncken  in  Germany. 

Twenty  years  ago,  in  the  city  of  Hamburg,  a  band 
of  seven  brethren  assembled  in  a  shoemaker's  shop, 
laid  their  hearts  together  upon  the  altar  of  God's 


216  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

service,  and  formed  themselves  into  a  church,  of 
which  Mr.  Oncken  was  chosen  pastor.  Now  behold 
the  results !  The  little  church  of  seven  members 
has  multiplied  itself  into  fifty  churches !  Ten  thou 
sand  souls  have  been  hopefully  converted ;  fifty  mill 
ions  of  persons  have  heard  the  true  gospel ;  and  eight 
millions  of  pages  of  tracts,  and  four  hundred  thou 
sand  copies  of  the  Scriptures  have  been  put  into  cir 
culation. 

How  has  this  work,  under  God,  been  accom 
plished  ?  Let  us  learn  from  the  pastor's  own  lips : 
"  All  our  members  were  initiated  and  instructed  into 
a  regular  system  of  operations.  Every  man  and 
woman  is  required  to  do  something  for  the  Lord,  and 
thus  the  Word  of  the  Lord  has  been  scattered.  We 
have  now  about  seventy  brethren  in  Hamburg,  who 
go  out  every  alternate  Sabbath,  two  by  two,  preach 
ing  the  gospel ;  and  by  this  means  the  whole  of  the 
city  has  heard  the  precious  name  of  Christ."  "  We 
think  that  all  the  talents  in  the  church  should  be 
brought  out.  A  list  of  the  brethren  who  can  speak 
is  kept,  and  they  are  sent  to  villages  to  preach  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  they  go  out  as  the  church  directs. 
Then  apart  from  these  laborers  and  from  the  labors 
of  the  female  members,  we  have  an  interesting 
machinery  which  has  worked  well,  and  costs  noth 
ing, —  and  that  is  the  travelling  apprentices.  It  is 
the  custom  of  apprentices  to  travel  after  learning 
their  trades,  and  many  come  to  Hamburg.  They 
are  supplied  with  tracts,  which  they  distribute  at 
home  and  abroad.  In  Vienna  and  in  Pesth,  thousands 
of  tracts  and  Bibles  were  scattered  during  the  revo 
lution,  the  way  for  which  had  been  prepared  by  these 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  217 

young  men."  It  is  stated  that  there  is  scarcely  a 
female  member  of  the  large  church  in  Hamburg, 
who  has  not  two  or  three  Bibles  and  a  parcel  of 
tracts  to  distribute ;  and  that,  in  a  single  year, 
through  the  six  hundred  members  of  the  church  and 
its  pastor,  every  family  in  that  city  of  one  hundred 
And  fifty  thousand  inhabitants,  was  visited,  for  the 
purpose  of  religious  conversation,  and  the  distribu 
tion  of  books.  And  there  is  this  remarkable  circum 
stance  beside ;  that  though  these  devoted  men  and 
their  brethren  in  other  parts  of  Germany,  form  less 
than  fifty  churches,  they  keep  up  preaching  at  nearly 
four  hundred  stations ! 

When  all  these  facts  are  taken  into  the  account, 
need  we  marvel  at  their  success  ?  God's  plans  of 
operation  are  all  perfect.  We  have  but  to  follow 
them,  and  we  shall  surely  witness,  as  in  this  instance, 
the  most  happy  results. 

Some  of  the  foregoing  remarks,  as  to  the  necessity 
of  the  cooperation  of  the  private  members  of  the 
churches  with  the  minister,  are  specially  applicable 
to  cities ;  but  the  call  for  such  cooperation  is  con 
fined  to  no  particular  localities  or  conditions  of 
society.  How  few  are  the  places  where  brethren 
might  not  be  profitably  employed,  like  the  Germans 
referred  to,  in  the  capacity  of  fe?/-preachers,  a  class 
of  laborers  once  so  effective.  Men  there  are,  in  most 
of  the  churches,  of  ardent  piety,  and  of  sufficient 
ability  to  interest  and  instruct  an  audience,  but 
whose  gift  for  exhortation  is  rarely  exercised.  There 
is  more  of  this  talent  than  is  generally  supposed; 
and  by  cultivation,  it  would  be  still  more  generally 
possessed. 

19 


218  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

And  why  should  these  gifts  be  suffered  to  lie  idle  ? 
Has  God  given  to  men  any  talents  which  he  does 
not  design  to  be  improved  ?  And  have  the  churches 
any  right  to  suffer  such  gifts  to  remain  unoccupied, 
yielding  no  returns  to  him  who  bestowed  them  with 
the  command,  "  Occupy  till  I  come  ?  "  Especially 
is  it  requisite  that  they  render  available  such  talent 
at  a  time  like  the  present,  when  the  demand  for  la 
borers  in  the  ministry  is  so  much  greater  than  the 
supply.  Where  is  the  congregation  that  might  not 
sustain  an  out  station  to  advantage,  if  it  were  in  the 
power  of  the  minister  to  assume  the  additional 
labor  ?  In  most  cases  it  is  beyond  his  power ;  and 
hence  preaching  stations,  and  in  many  instances 
feeble  churches,  are  left  destitute.  But  if  these  lay- 
brethren  are  sought  out,  and  encouraged  to  engage 
in  the  work,  the  necessity  is  met,  to  some  extent,  at 
least.  If  they  can  interest  their  brethren  in  the 
social  meeting,  why  not  an  equally  large  gathering 
in  some  destitute  neighborhood?  If  they  are  listened 
to  with  interest  when  they  speak  to  their  fellow-citi 
zens  upon  subjects  of  a  civil  or  political  nature,  why 
may  they  not  address  them,  with  equal  propriety  and 
acceptableness,  upon  the  great  concerns  of  religion  ? 

Moreover,  the  time  will  come,  when  lay-mission 
aries  will  be  universally  considered  as  indispensable 
in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  heathen.  Already 
has  it  been  said  in  the  high  places  of  Zion,  "  It  may 
be  well  to  institute  the  inquiry,  whether  among  the 
means  and  methods  of  evangelizing  the  heathen,  it 
should  not  be  projected  by  laymen,  of  all  arts  and 
professions,  we  do  not  say  to  be  sent,  but  to  send 
themselves,  in  the  arrangements  of  their  own  trade, 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  219 

toil,  and  traffic,  all  over,  the  earth,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  being  succorers  of  the  gospel,  rearing 
churches,  ....  in  their  own  homes,  and  pouring 
light  and  love  through  all  the  channels  of  secular 
intercourse,  upon  the  souls  of  the  benighted."  *  And 
no  one  can  read  the  chapter  on  "  Laymen  called  to 
the  Field  of  Missions,"  from  the  glowing  pen  of  the 
lamented  Dibble,  without  being  impressed  with  the 
conviction,  that  in  this  department  of  effort,  laymen 
have  yet  to  perform  an  important  part.f  And  so  in 
other  departments  of  Christian  activity.  The  dis 
tinction  between  the  ministry  and  the  membership 
of  the  churches,  as  regards  the  obligation  to  diffuse 
the  gospel,  is  far  too  sharply  defined.  The  work  of 
the  churches  is  far  too  generally  given  over  into  the 
hands  of  the  officials.  How  different  from  the  time 
when  those  unordained  ministers  went  out  from 
Jerusalem,  preaching  everywhere  the  word  I 

When  primitive  piety  shall  once  more  prevail, 
how  marked,  and  how  pleasing  shall  be  the  change ! 
Then  no  professor,  lay  or  clerical,  will  desire 
exemption  from  this  responsibility  and  labor. 
Then,  like  Simon  and  Philip,  will  converted  men 
say,  "  We  have  found  the  Messiah,"  and  like  him 
from  whom  the  evil  spirit  was  cast  out,  '  go  home  to 
their  friends,  and  tell  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath 
done  for  them.'  Then  shall  the  preachers  of  the  gospel 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Adams's  Sermon  before  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  preached  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  Oct.  4,  1853. 

f  See  Thoughts  on  Missions, by  Rev.  Sheldon  Dibble,  pp.  Ill  - 
134. 


220  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

send  to  other  churches,  as  of  old,  the  salutations  of 
their  "fellow-workers  unto  the  kingdom  of  God, 
which  have  been  a  comfort  unto  them,"  and  tell,  with 
grateful  emotions,  of  an  Apelles,  and  Aquila,  and 
Epenetus  ;  a  Lucius,  a  Rufus,  and  a  Nereius ;  and 
of  Marys  and  Priscillas ;  of  Persis  and  Tryphena  and 
Tryphosa,  and  "  those  women  which  labored  with  " 
them  "  in  the  gospel ; "  and  of  others,  their  "  fellow- 
laborers,  whose  names  are  in  the  book  of  life."  And 
then  shall  hosts  of  men  and  women  be  found,  conse 
crated,  in  the  highest  sense,  to  God's  service;  — 
"  deacons  and  deaconesses,  brothers  and  sisters  of 
charity,  filled  with  Christ's  love  in  their  hearts, — 
priests  and  priestesses,  self-devoted  to  the  high- 
priest's  own  work  of  going  about  to  do  good." 

The  happy  results  of  such  universal  activity,  who 
can  fully  appreciate  ?  How  blessed  in  its  influence, 
both  upon  unconverted  men,  and  individual  Christian 
character !  Personal  piety  will  thereby  be  greatly 
promoted ;  for,  by  no  other  method  is  it  so  effectually 
advanced,  as  by  thinking,  and  praying,  and  acting, 
for  the  eternal  salvation  of  those  perishing  in  sin. 
Christians  will  then  possess  a  breadth,  and  depth, 
and  strength  of  character  —  a  manliness  and  matu 
rity —  now  seldom  witnessed.  They  will  become 
healthful,  energetic,  animated  followers  of  Christ. 
The  "  weak  in  Zion"  will  become  "  as  David ;  and  the 
house  of  David  as  the  angel  of  the  Lord." 

Then  will  there  be  more  of  constant  rejoicing  in 
the  Lord.  "  O,  there  is  a  richness  of  holy  joy,"  ex 
claimed  a  missionary,  "in  yielding  up  all  to  God, 
and  holding  ourselves  as  waiting  servants  to  do  his 
will ! "  "  I  love  the  mission  work,"  said  another,  "  and 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  221 

the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the  children  of  God,  more 
and  more  every  day;  and  every  night  I  go  to  my 
pillow  with  a  heart, —  oh,  so  full  and  happy!" 
Howard's  prescription  for  a  heavy  heart,  is  after  the 
divine  order,  —  "  Set  about  doing  good  to  somebody. 
Put  on  your  hat  and  go  out  and  visit  the  sick  and 
the  poor ;  inquire  into  their  wants,  and  administer 
unto  them  ;  seek  out  the  desolate  and  oppressed,  and 
tell  them  of  the  consolations  of  religion.  I  have 
often  tried  this  method,  and  have  always  found  it 
the  best  medicine  for  a  heavy  heart."  The  Spartans 
had  a  law  that  no  child  should  partake  of  his  meal, 
until  sweat  was  seen  to  stand  on  his  forehead.  Of 
higher  antiquity  was  that  law  which  reads,  "  If  ye 
be  willing  and  obedient,  ye  shall  eat  the  good  of  the 
land."  He  eats  most  of  Christ's  dainties,  who  per 
forms  most  of  Christ's  duties. 

Then  how  speedily  shall  the  news  of  the  great 
salvation  break  upon  the  ear  of  every  mortal! 
When  the  cry  of  fire  -is  first  raised  in  a  populous 
town,  it  is  echoed  back  by  a  single  voice.  In  a  mo 
ment  it  is  caught  up  by  another,  and  by  another  still, 
and  so  spreads  outward  until  the  alarm  becomes 
universal. 

President  Wayland's  illustration,  drawn  from  the 
event  of  the  proclamation  of  peace  in  New  York,  at 
the  close  of  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  is  ex 
ceedingly  forcible  and  appropriate.  After  describing 
the  gloomy  prospects  of  the  nation,  he  states  from 
personal  observation,  that  on  a  Saturday  afternoon 
in  February,  a  ship  was  discovered  in  the  offing, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  a  cartel,  bringing  home 
19* 


222  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

our  commissioners  at  Ghent,  from  their  mission. 
The  sun  had  set  gloomily  before  any  intelligence 
from  the  vessel  had  reached  the  city.  Expectation 
became  intense  as  the  hours  of  darkness  drew  on. 
At  length  a  boat  reached  the  wharf,  announcing  the 
fact  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed.  The 
men  on  whose  ears  these  words  first  fell,  rushed  in 
breathless  haste  into  the  city,  to  repeat  them  to  their 
friends,  shouting  as  they  ran  through  the  streets, 
peace  !  peace !  peace !  Every  one  who  heard  the 
sound  repeated  it.  The  news  spread  with  electric 
rapidity.  The  whole  city  was  in  commotion.  Men 
bearing  lighted  torches  were  flying  to  and  fro,  shout 
ing  like  madmen,  peace  !  peace !  peace !  Few  slept. 
One  idea  occupied  the  mind ;  and  every  one  becoming 
a  herald,  the  news  soon  reached  every  man,  woman, 
and  child  in  the  city.  Would  the  news  of  "  peace 
on  earth,"  spread  with  less  rapidity  through  the 
whole  world,  were  each  disciple  to  thus  promptly  act 
his  part  in  its  promulgation  ? 

And  what  power  shall  attend  the  messages  thus  de 
livered!  It  is  stated  that  the  mission  churches  in 
Burmah  have  been  almost  exclusively  raised  up  by 
means  of  Zayat  preaching;  which  is  little  else,  for 
the  most  part,  than  sitting  down  and  conversing 
upon  religion  with  a  single  individual,  or  a  group  of 
individuals,  who  may  be  present.  How  like  Christ's 
method  of  making  converts !  There  is  power  in  di 
rect  appeal.  The  fact  that  the  unconverted  are  so 
reluctant  to  put  themselves  in  the  way  of  personal 
conversation  on  religious  subjects,  notwithstanding 
their  readiness  to  hear  preaching  in  public,  is  a  strik 
ing  proof  of  this.  So  also  in  the  process  by  which 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  223 

revivals  of  religion  generally  progress;  which  is 
mainly,  or  at  least  to  a  great  extent,  through  the  pri 
vate  and  personal  efforts  of  Christians  of  experience, 
and  of  those  who  are  recent  converts. 

Now  suppose  that  Christians,  generally,  should 
adopt  this  method,  and  address  themselves,  in  good 
earnest,  to  the  work  of  the  world's  conversion.  If 
they  numbered  but  five  hundred  thousand  upon  the 
whole  earth,  and  each  one  of  them  should  become 
the  means  of  converting  one  soul  a  year;  and  if, 
from  year  to  year,  these  five  hundred  thousand  per 
sons,  and  those  converted  through  their  instrumen 
tality,  should  go  on,  severally  leading  one  soul  to 
Christ  yearly,  in  the  short  space  of  thirteen  years, 
leaving  a  wide  margin  for  increase  of  population 
and  decrease  of  laborers,  the  whole  world  would  be 
converted.  But,  in  fact,  instead  of  five  hundred 
thousand  Christians,  there  are,  of  those  who  make 
what  may  be  termed  an  intelligent  profession  of 
religion  in  the  different  parts  of  the  world,  perhaps 
twelve  millions,  or  twenty-five  times  the  number  above 
supposed.  Alas,  that  such  an  immense  army  should 
make  such  slow  aggressions  upon  the  kingdom  of 
darkness !  Alas,  that  such  a  prodigious  force  should 
be  accomplishing  so  little! 

Some  one  has  made  the  following  calculation. 
Suppose  the  work  of  evangelization  to  be  com 
menced  in  the  ministry  of  a  single  believer;  and  sup 
pose  his  labors  and  prayers  during  one  year  to  result 
in  the  conversion  of  a  single  individual.  Then  sup 
pose  these  two  to  labor  the  second  year  with  the 
same  result,  each  of  them  being  instrumental  in  the 
conversion  of  another,  so  that  a  little  band  of  four 


224  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

brethren  enter  on  the  third  year.  Now  taking  the 
population  of  the  globe  at  nine  hundred  millions, 
and  supposing  their  agency  to  advance  thus,  by 
geometrical  progression,  it  is  easy  to  tell  when  they 
will  overtake  the  whole  field.  By  following  out  the 
problem,  it  will  be  seen,  that  long  before  the  first 
laborer,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  nature,  should  be 
gathered  to  his  fathers,  there  would  not  be  left  a  sin 
gle  outcast  on  earth  beyond  the  blessed  fraternity  of 
faith  and  love  ! 

Perhaps  the  view  is  more  impressive  still,  if  con 
fined  to  a  narrower  scale.  In  the  United  States,  as 
previously  seen,  we  have  one  member  of  some  evan 
gelical  .church,  to  every  seven  individuals  of  the 
whole  population.  Now,  by  deducting  the  profess 
ing  Christians,  and  a  suitable  number  for  the  infant 
portion  of  the  community,  it  will  be  seen  that  if 
every  believer  were  to  attempt  the  conversion,  under 
God,  of  some  five  individuals  within  the  space  of 
the  next  year,  and  were  successful  in  leading  them 
to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth,  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  within  the  limits  of  the  whole  country  might 
be  enrolled  as  a  follower  of  Christ,  by  the  expiration 
of  that  short  period  of  twelve  months!  And  yet, 
would  the  immediate  conversion  of  the  small  num 
ber  of  five  individuals,  be  too  much  for  the  humblest 
disciple  to  attempt  for  God,  and  expect  from  God? 

When,  therefore,  we  look  abroad  and  behold  the 
world  lying  in  wickedness,  it  must  be  remembered, 
that  there  is  a  force,  every  way  adequate,  through 
Christ,  to  its  complete  and  speedy  rescue.  To  bring 
that  force  into  action  is  all  that  is  required. 

Numerous  as  are  the  ranks  of  the  unconverted, 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  225 

they  will  most  surely  and  most  rapidly  disappear 
when  once  the  passion  for  saving  souls  takes  posses 
sion  of  the  individual  members  of  Christ's  church  on 
earth,  —  when,  in  the  warehouse  and  in  the  shop,  in 
the  factory  and  in  the  mill,  in  the  granary  and  in  the 
field,  on  the  road  side  and  at  the  fireside,  in  the  city 
and  in  the  country,  on  the  sea  and  on  the  shore,  men 
and  women  are  eagerly  watching  to  proselyte  some 
soul  to  Christ,  —  when  '  love  for  the  world  shall  burn 
in  each  heart,  prayer  for  the  world  ascend  from  each 
lip,  bounty  for  the  world  drop  from  each  hand,  the 
message  of  mercy  gush  from  every  tongue.'  Then, 
O  then,  shall  linger  no  longer  the  salvation  of  a 
ruined  race ! 

For  the  introduction  of  such  a  state  of  things,  the 
responsibility  of  ministers  is  great  indeed.  If  it  is 
ever  to  be  brought  about,  it  must  be,  mainly,  through 
their  instrumentality.  It  seems  to  be  needful,  first 
of  all,  that  questions  like  these  should  be  more  closely 
studied,  and  more  frequently  discussed  from  the 
pulpit  and  platform,  and  through  the  public  press. 
What  are  the  mutual  relations  of  ministerial  and 
lay  agency,  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  ?  How  shall 
the  moral  force  of  the  entire  membership  of  the 
churches  be  called  forth,  and  brought  to  bear  most 
effectively  upon  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom  ?  Besides  this,  it  is  necessary  that  pastors 
give  increased  attention  to  the  development  of  the 
energies  of  their  people  ;  by  opening  to  them  avenues 
of  usefulness,  and  stimulating  them,  by  every  possi 
ble  means,  to  engage  personally  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord. 


226  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

The  words  of  Dr.  Harris  upon  this  subject,  cannot 
be  too  seriously  pondered.  "  The  man  of  God  when 
put  in  trust  with  the  ministry  of  a  particular  church, 
is  to  look  upon  each  of  its  members  as  a  talent,  con 
cerning  which  the  divine  Proprietor  is  saying,  — 
'  Occupy  till  I  come,  —  employ  every  member,  — 
every  moment  and  faculty  of  every  member,  —  to 
the  best  advantage,  that  each  may  be  the  means  of 
winning  another,  and  that  my  church  of  five  hun 
dred  may  be  the  means  of  gaining  other  five  hun 
dred  more.'  With  this  solemn  charge  resting  on 
his  spirit,  he  will  feel  that  his  first  object  is  to  make 
most  of  that  church,  with  whose  instrumentality  his 
Lord  has  intrusted  him.  Its  members  may  not  be 
educated,  wealthy,  numerous,  nor  in  a  worldly  sense 
influential.  But  they  are  such  as  God  hath  collected 
and  formed  into  a  church  to  take  part  in  his  sublime 
purpose  of  saving  the  world. 

"  One  thing  is  certain,  therefore,  that  they  are  all  to 
be  employed.  In  this  sense  there  are  to  be  no  '  pri 
vate  Christians '  among  them.  Every  believer  is  a 
public  man,  taken  up  into  the  universal  designs  of 
the  God  of  grace.  In  whatever  sense  they  are  pri 
vate,  then,  like  the  ranks  of  an  army  all  are  to  take 
the  field ;  the  only  concern  of  the  minister  must  be 
how  to  dispose  of  his  forces  so  as  to  render  them 
most  effective  in  the  cause  of  God.  A  ministry 
which  begins  and  ends  with  itself,  —  however  pious, 
intelligent,  and  eloquent  it  may  be,  —  is  only  the 
ministry  of  one  man ;  and  even  that  counteracted, 
neutralized,  and  often  rendered  worse  than  useless, 
by  the  slumbering  and  selfish  inactivity  of  the  peo 
ple.  But  a  ministry  which  sets  and  keeps  in  motion 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  227 

an  entire  church,  however  destitute  it  may  be  of 
other  qualifications,  becomes,  in  effect,  the  ministry 
of  all  its  members,  and  thus  proves  an  instrumen 
tality  of  the  widest  influence  and  of  the  greatest  effi 
ciency.  And  never  till  the  entire  church  is  thus  moved, 
and  all  its  resources  put  into  actual  requisition,  will 
the  full  value  of  the  Christian  ministry  be  seen;  for 
never  till  then  will  it  fully  answer  the  high  object 
of  its  divine  appointment  in  the  conversion  of  man 
kind." 

And  finally,  believer  in  Christ,  whose  eye  now 
rests  upon  this  page,  are  you  acting  a  faithful  part 
in  the  great  work  of  bringing  back  to  Christ  an 
estranged  world?  Perhaps  you  are  a  "private  mem 
ber  "  only,  of  the  church,  arid  on  this  account  are  ac 
customed  to  suppress  the  uprising  of  an  occasional 
and  troublesome  sense  of  neglect  of  duty,  it  may  be 
toward  a  beloved  child,  or  companion,  or  friend,  for 
whose  conversion  you  have  at  times  felt  somewhat 
concerned.  But  you  are,  with  great  earnestness  and 
affection,  entreated  to  consider  well  whether  God 
does,  or  does  not  accept,  the  excuses  which  you  are 
wont  to  render  for  such  neglect.  Will  your  plea 
that  you  lack  the  means,  or  the  time,  or  the  opportu 
nity,  or  the  gift  that  is  necessary,  be  acknowledged 
valid  in  the  judgment  ?  How  many  are  the  oppor 
tunities  of  usefulness,  if  you  had  but  a  heart  to  em 
brace  them  ?  There  is  the  unconverted  member  of 
your  own  household,  —  there  the  Sunday  school,  and 
the  tract  district,  —  there  a  destitute  neighborhood 
and  an  afflicted  family,  and  a  group  of  fatherless  or 
motherless  children,  —  there  is  a  dying  couch  and  a 
disconsolate  widow,  a  burdened  inquirer,  a  thought- 


228  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

less  sinner,  a  cold  backslider,  —  and  where  you  will 
you  may  do  good.  Is  it  not  possible  that  some  un 
converted  individual  is  surprised  that  you  do  not 
speak  to  him  as  to  the  interests  of  his  soul?  Has 
not  some  one,  partly  through  your  neglect,  been  led 
substantially  to  say  with  a  certain  young  man,  '  I 
have  always  been  in  the  habit  of  attending  church 
on  the  Sabbath.  For  nearly  two  years  I  have  been 
constant  at  a  particular  meeting,  but  who  of  the  en 
tire  congregation  knows  whether  I  am  a  professor  or 
non-professor  ?  How  many  of  this  large  congrega 
tion  have  spoken  to  me  upon  this  subject,  or  show 
any  desire  to  know  my  feelings  upon  it  ?  Not  one. 
Who  cares  for  me,  whether  I  be  eternally  saved,  or 
lost?' 

Paul  anticipated  pleasure  in  meeting  those  in 
heaven,  whom  he  had  instrumentally  saved:  "For 
what  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing?  Are 
not  even  ye  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
at  his  coming  ?  "  Are  you  willing  to  go  home  to 
heaven  with  not  one  soul  to  present  to  Christ,  —  not 
one  soul  whom  you  may  look  upon,  through  all  eter 
nity,  as  saved  in  connection  with  your  endeavor? 
Who  would  covet  the  heaven  of  such  an  one? 
Many  opportunities  you  have  already  suffered  to 
pass  by  unimproved ;  but  you  may  yet  '  save  a  soul 
from  death,  and  hide  a  multitude  of  sins.'  If  you 
feel  the  force  of  no  abiding  motive,  urging  you  to 
this  duty,  go  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  there  study 
your  obligations  anew.  Consider  also  how  ready  is 
God  to  bless  the  humblest  efforts  of  his  children. 
That  devoted  servant  of  Christ  referred  to  above,  as 
having  done  so  great  a  work  in  Germany,  owed  his 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  229 

conversion,  under  God,  to  an  humble  individual 
with  whom  he  resided  when  a  young  man  in 
London. 

The  efforts  of  a  gentleman  from  Scotland,  during 
a  brief  residence  in  Geneva,  some  forty  years  since, 
were  a  main  agency  in  the  conversion  of  Frederic 
Monad,  and  Felix  Neff,  and  the  eminent  historian  of 
the  Reformation,  Dr.  J.  H.  Merle  D'Aubigne,  and 
several  others.  Who  can  gather  up  the  results  of 
those  labors  for  Christ  ?  Baxter's  first  religious  im 
pressions  were  produced  by  the  personal  conversa 
tion  of  his  father.  Haiian  Page,  by  religious  conver 
sation  with  those  with  whom  he  met,  by  writing  letters 
to  unconverted  persons,  by  giving  away  tracts,  and 
establishing  prayer-meetings,  and  the  like  means, 
though  by  trade  a  carpenter,  accomplished  results 
compared  with  which  those  of  many  a  minister  even, 
are  trivial.  And  when  this  good  man  was  about  to 
die,  he  could  say, "  I  know  it  is  all  of  God's  grace, 
and  nothing  that  I  have  done :  but  I  think  that  I 
have  had  evidence  that  more  than  one  hundred  souls 
have  been  converted  to  God  through  my  own  direct 
and  personal  instrumentality." 

Follow  the  example  of  this  servant  of  the  Lord, 
even  as  he  followed  Christ.  Wait  not  for  opportu 
nities  to  do  some  great  work.  Use  such  as  now 
present  themselves.  Seize  every  favorable  moment 
to  drop  a  word  for  your  Master,  —  to  impress  a  soul 
with  saving  truth,  —  to  bring  back  a  wanderer  to  the 
favor  and  the  fold  of  God.  Do  it  with  a  gentle, 
tender,  earnest  spirit.  Do  it  with  much  prayer 
for  success.  The  carrier-pigeon  first  flies  directly 
upward,  and  then  outward  to  its  destination.  So  in 

20 


230  PRIMITIVE    PIETY   REVIVED. 

your  errands  of  mercy;  first  mount  upward  on 
wings  of  faith  toward  heaven,  and  then  haste  to  do 
the  Master's  bidding.  And  be  not  weary  in  well 
doing ;  for,  in  due  season,  you  shall  reap,  if  you 
faint  not. 


CHAPTER     VIII. 

THE  GRAND  REMEDY  FOR  ALL  EXISTING  DEFECTS  IN  CHRIS 
TIAN  CHARACTER  —  A  GENERAL  AND  POWERFUL  REVIVAL 
OF  RELIGION  IN  THE  CHURCHES. 

Recapitulation.  —  Where  the  Promise  of  his  Coming  ?  —  A  powerful  and 
extensive  work  of  Grace  the  grand  Means  of  Progress.  —  The  Spirit  ot 
God  the  animating  Agency  in  the  Church.  —  Aggressive  Movements  of 
Modern  Times  the  fruit  of  Eevivals.  —  Permanence  and  Welfare  of  our 
Country  to  be  attributed  to  special  Outpourings  of  the  Spirit.  —  Such 
Seasons  now  required.  —  Need  of,  in  the  great  Centres  of  Influence.  — 
In  all  parts  of  the  Land.  —  Position  of  this  Country,  and  sublime  Mission 
of  the  American  Churches.  —  Eevivals  gained,  all  gained.  —  Pentecostal 
Scenes  to  be  expected.  —  Ministers  to  labor  for  their  Ecturn.  —  Chris 
tians  generally  to  awake  and  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord.  —  Con 
cluding  Appeal. 

UPON  a  review  of  the  preceding  pages,  it  will  be 
seen  that  we  were  led,  first  of  all,  to  inquire  into  the 
actual  existence  of  any  serious  defects  in  the  pre 
vailing  piety  of  the  age  ;  and  that  we  were  com 
pelled,  from  various  considerations,  to  adopt  the 
painful  conclusion  that  such  defects  do  really  exist. 
We  then  proceeded  to  consider  several  prominent 
features  of  the  piety  of  primitive  times,  in  respect  to 
each  of  which  there  is  now  an  alarming  deficiency. 
These  were,  simplicity  of  purpose,  —  consecration  to 
God,  —  a  scriptural  faith,  —  self-denial  for  Christ,  — 
earnestness,  —  individualism. 

(231) 


232  PRIMITIVE    PIETY    REVIVED. 

An  examination  like  this,  of  subjects  most  inti 
mately  related  to  the  welfare  of  Christ's  kingdom  on 
earth,  is  adapted  to  awaken  emotions  of  no  ordinary 
character.  The  thoughtful,  praying  disciple,  who 
has  long  waited  for  the  glorious  day  predicted  of 
old,  will  almost  involuntarily  exclaim :  Great  God, 
where  is  the  promise  of  thy  coming  ?  Is  this  thine 
earth,  —  the  world  pledged  to  thy  Son  for  a  pure  in 
heritance  and  an  undisputed  possession  ?  Are  not 
six  hundred  millions  of  the  race  still  under  the  almost 
entire  control  of  Satan?  Does  not  the  destroyer 
still  walk  abroad  as  the  god  of  this  world  ?  Does 
not  idolatry  still  defy  the  heavens  ?  Alas !  Maker  of 
the  universe,  what  a  debased  and  maddened  world 
turns  round  to  thine  eye !  How  long !  O  how  long ! 

"  For  near  six  thousand  years  thy  foe 
Has  triumphed  over  all  below  ; 
Save  that  a  little  flock  is  found, 
With  ravening  wolves  encompassed  round !  " 

When,  when  shall  the  reign  of  the  tempter  end  ? 

More  affecting  still,  if  possible,  to  the  pious  soul, 
is  the  condition  of  the  church.  Amid  some  things 
that  are  encouraging,  how  much  there  is  to  sadden 
the  heart !  How  much  worldliness,  and  selfishness ! 
How  much  deadness  to  spiritual  objects !  How 
much  insensibility  to  the  perils  and  woes  of  dying 
men!  How  many  unsanctified  hands,  and  hearts, 
and  possessions !  And  how  little  of  that  faith 
which  ventures  all  on  God,  and  which  subordinates 
this  world  to  the  next !  How  little  of  suffering  and 
sacrificing  for  Christ,  and  of  ardent  and  personal 
endeavor  to  save  souls  from  going  down  to  perdi 
tion  ! 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  233 

And  with  what  emphasis  comes  the  cry  of  one 
of  Zion's  most  faithful  watchmen  :  '  O  what,  and 
who  shall  rouse  the  church  of  God  to  a  sense  of  her 
duty,  her  destiny,  and  her  honor,  as  God's  instrument 
for  converting  an  ungodly  world?  Where  is  the 
more  than  trumpet  breath  that,  with  the  thunders  of 
the  skies,  and  the  voice  of  eternal  truth,  shall  break 
in  upon  the  slumber  of  a  luxurious  and  unbelieving 
church  !  What  visitations  of  mercy  or  of  judgment ; 
what  internal  commotions,  or  external  assaults ; 
what  national  convulsions  or  social  disruptions,  are 
necessary  to  arouse  her  to  her  work,  and  prepare  her 
to  perform  it !  When  shall  every  Christian  feel  that 
God's  chief  end  in  keeping  him  out  of  heaven  for  a 
season  is,  that  he  might  keep  immortal  souls  out  of 
hell  ?  When  shall  another  Luther  rise  up  to  reform 
us  from  our  worldliness,  even  as  the  first  delivered  us 
from  Popery  ?  When  shall  another  Whitefield  pass 
through  the  midst  of  us,  and  with  his  burning  elo 
quence,  kindle  a  fire  of  zeal  in  our  hearts  which  shall 
consume  the  earthliness,  and  purify  the  gold  of  our 
faith?' 

The  means  by  which  the  defects  that  have  been 
particularly  considered,  are  to  be  removed,  and  the 
churches  rendered  more  efficient,  is  a  branch  of  our 
subject  already  partially  noticed  in  the  main  discus 
sion.  It  is  deserving,  however,  of  special  attention. 
Those  means  are  varied  in  their  character,  and  in 
degrees  of  importance.  But  there  is  one  remedy  ex 
celling,  heaven  wide,  all  others  ;  and,  indeed,  concen 
trating  all  others  into  itself:  and  that  is,  a  general 
and  powerful  revival  of  pure  religion.  Nothing  short 
20* 


234  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

of  the  indwelling  of  a  larger  measure  of  the  divine 
Spirit,  which  constitutes  a  genuine  revival,  can  effect 
the  removal  of  those  alarming  evils  which  afflict  the 
church,  and  the  world.  And  this  can  effect  their' 
removal.  These  are  the  two  propositions  to  be  main 
tained. 

Observe,  then,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  is  the  grand 
animating'  agency  in  the  Christian  Church.  He  first 
gives  life  to  the  soul,  and  afterward  sustains  and 
increases  that  vital  energy.  The  vigor  of  the  whole 
spiritual  being  depends  upon  his  presence.  He  is 
the  sanctifier  of  the  soul.  He  enables  us  to  over 
come  and  eradicate  the  remains  of  sin  within  us; 
and  gives  to  the  new  nature  symmetry,  beauty,  ma 
turity,  and  strength.  And  what  he  does  for  an  indi 
vidual  Christian,  he  also  accomplishes  for  the  body 
of  believers.  When  the  ark  abode  in  the  house  of 
Obed-edom,  it  was  doubly  blessed  and  happy.  When 
God's  presence  was  manifested  among  his  people  of 
old,  it  diffused  bloom  and  beauty  all  abroad.  '  Car- 
mel's  summit  displayed  a  richer  green;  Hermon's 
acclivity  with  its  varying  belts  of  cloud  and  sun 
shine,  sent  forth  more  fertilizing  vapor  to  irrigate  the 
soil ;  Ophir  and  Tarshish  poured  still  ampler  stores 
into  the  marts  of  trade;  health  smiled  on  every 
hand ;  and  each  one  sat  under  his  own  vine  and  fig- 
tree,  none  daring  to  molest  or  make  afraid.'  And  so 
when  God's  spiritual  garden  is  favored  with  the 
special  divine  presence,  the  dry  and  barren  ground  is 
made  to  abound  with  springs  of  water,  and  become 
fruitful  soil ;  the  drooping  vines  revive, 

"  The  spices  yield  their  rich  perfume ; 
The  lilies  grow  and  thrive." 


A    PREMIUM   ESSAY.  235 

Who  that  has  witnessed  the  effects  of  a  powerful 
revival  of  religion  upon  the  hearts  and  lives  of  God's 
children,  has  failed  to  observe  that  the  eye  is  then 
single,  the  energies  and  affections  are  cheerfully  con 
secrated  to  God,  faith  is  in  vigorous  exercise,  the 
saving  of  souls,  and  the  concerns  of  the  world  to 
come,  occupy  the  mind,  and  this  world,  as  Edwards 
represents  it,  speaking  of  the  light  in  which  it  was 
viewed  by  the  people  of  New  England  during  the 
great  awakening  of  his  time,  "  is  a  thing  only  by  the 
by." 

And  hence  it  is  that,  while  under  the  influence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  the  imperfections  of  the  people  of 
God  disappear,  their  preparedness  for  the  subjuga 
tion  of  a  wicked  world  to  Christ,  is  secured.  Then 
are  they  possessed,  not  alone  of  the  principle  of  life, 
but  of  power  also.  In  the  tabernacle  service,  the 
sacred  utensils,  and  the  priests  were  of  no  avail,  ex 
cept  the  cloud  appeared,  which  symbolized  the  divine 
presence.  And  in  equipping  his  servants  for  their 
mission,  they  were  directed  by  the  Lord  to  "  tarry  at 
Jerusalem,"  until  they  should  experience  the  prom 
ised  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  came,  at  length, 
and  then  were  they  "  endued  with  power  from  on 
high."  Then  went  they  forth  to  subdue  the  enemies 
of  the  cross,  and  triumphed  in  all  places.  So  in 
every  advance  which  the  church  has  made  since  the 
days  of  the  apostles.  It  has  not  been  by  might,  nor 
by  human  power,  but  by  God's  Spirit.  The  measure 
of  the  gift  of  the  Spirit  has  always  determined  the 
measure  of  success.  The  larger  the  outpouring  from 
above,  the  larger  the  ingathering  upon  earth. 

It  is  interesting  to  notice,  also,  in  support  of  our 


236  PRIMITIVE   PIETY    REVIVED. 

position,  the  more  remarkable  aggressive  movements 
of  the  Christian  church  in  modern  times ;  and  observe 
how  clearly  they  may  be  traced  to  extensive  revivals 
of  religion.  Not  to  dwell  upon  the  early  efforts  of 
Eliot  and  the  Mayhews  to  evangelize  the  American 
Indians  —  efforts  which  had  their  rise  in  a  revival 
under  the  labors  of  the  old  Puritans,  —  nor  upon  the 
mission  of  Swartz  and  others  from  Germany  to 
India,  which  owed  its  origin  to  the  revival  of  the 
Protestant  faith  under  Francke,  Spener,  and  those 
of  kindred  spirit,  —  nor  upon  the  missionary  enter 
prise  of  the  Moravians,  which  may  be  traced  to  the 
successful  labors  of  Zinzendorf,  —  let  us  turn  to  the 
great  missionary  movement  of  the  present  century. 

We  must  look  for  the  remote  cause  of  that  glori 
ous  enterprise,  as  far  back  as  the  period  of  the 
"  Great  Awakening,"  which  dates  from  about  the 
year  1740.  Associated  with  that  wonderful  work 
of  grace,  is  the  brilliant  constellation  of  familiar 
names,  —  Wesley,  Whitefield,  Romaine,  Wren,  Lady 
Huntington,  Doddridge,  Erskine,  the  Tennants,  Da- 
vies,  Brainerd,  Edwards.  Both  in  this  country  and 
in  Great  Britain,  vital,  evangelical  religion  was  ex 
tensively  revived.  Edwards,  who  has  so  fully  written 
the  history  of  its  rise  and  progress  in  the  United 
States,  says,  "  It  might  be  said  at  that  time,  in  all 
parts  of  the  country,  '  who  are  these  that  fly  as  a 
cloud  and  as  the  doves  to  their  windows?'"  In 
respect  to  his  own  field  of  labor  he  observes,  "  There 
was  scarcely  a  single  person  in  all  the  town,  old  or 
young,  left  unconcerned  about  the  great  things  of 
the  eternal  world."  "  The  town  seemed  to  be  full  of 
the  presence  of  God ;  it  was  never  so  full  of  love, 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  237 

nor  of  joy,  and  yet  so  full  of  distress,  as  it  was  then." 
"  A  loose,  careless  person,  could  scarcely  be  found  in 
the  whole  neighborhood ;  and  if  there  was  any  one, 
it  would  be  spoken  of  as  a  strange  thing." 

The  fruits  of  that  work  remain  unto  this  day. 
How  largely  they  entered  into  the  grand,  immediate 
causes  of  the  missionary  movement,  it  is  impossible 
to  tell.  Doubtless  as  their  result,  in  part,  were  Heber 
and  Martyn  and  Buchanan  and  Carey  sent  forth, 
from  the  mother  country,  to  preach  salvation  to  the 
heathen.  And,  doubtless,  as  regards  our  own  land, 
the  work  of  grace  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  was,  in  some  sense,  but  the  renewal  of  that 
work  which  had  preceded  it. 

But  coming  down  to  the  time  last  indicated,  the 
year  1800,  we  meet  with  one  of  the  most  blessed 
revivals  with  which  the  churches  have  ever  been 
favored.  At  that  time  began  the  moral  change, 
which,  as  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "  swept  from  so  large  a 
part  of  New  England  its  looseness  of  doctrine  and 
laxity  of  discipline,  and  awakened  an  evangelical 
pulse  in  every  vein  of  the  American  church."  Then 
it  was  that  the  same  individual,  speaking  of  certain 
parts  of  Connecticut,  could  make  mention  of  "  thrice 
twenty  congregations,  in  contiguous  counties,  as  laid 
down  in  one  field  of  divine  wonders."  And  just 
here,  by  this  gracious  visitation  from  on  high,  were 
quickened  into  life  the  germs  of  those  great  benevo 
lent  institutions,  which  are  the  glory  of  our  country 
and  age.  The  laborers,  themselves,  in  that  revival, 
became  missionaries  in  every  direction.  One  was 
sent  into  a  destitute  part  of  Vermont ;  some  plead, 
with  trumpet  tongue,  the  cause  of  missions  at  home 


238  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

and  abroad,  and  some  organized  local  societies  for 
its  promotion. 

Here  we  begin  to  recognize  the  name  and  influ 
ence  of  Samuel  J.  Mills,  who  originated  in  one  of 
the  counties  where  the  power  of  God  was  remarka 
bly  displayed,  and  from  whom  the  eloquent  Griffin, 
according  to  his  own  testimony,  received  that  mighty 
impulse  which  enabled  him  to  become  so  efficient  in 
the  formation  of  several  benevolent  organizations. 
Close  by  the  side  of  young  Mills,  Gordon  Hall  origi 
nated  ;  who  became  one  of  the  pioneer  missionaries. 
Connected  with  another  of  the  godly  men  who 
shared  a  part  in  that  glorious  awakening,  was  James 
Richards,  who  was  one  of  the  six  young  men  who 
declared  to  a  meeting  of  Congregational  ministers 
in  Massachusetts,  in  the  year  1810,  their  intention  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 

It  is  to  these  very  three  individuals  —  Mills,  Hall, 
Richards  —  and  with  them  Judson  and  Rice,  that 
we  refer  those  prayers  and  communings,  those  holy 
aspirations  and  high  resolves,  which  invest  with  such 
grandeur  the  commencement  of  the  American  mis 
sionary  enterprise.  They  are  the  men  concerning 
whom  it  is  written,  that,  while  students  at  Williams 
College,  "  On  Wednesday  afternoons  they  used  to 
retire  for  prayer  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley  south  of 
the  west  college ;  and  on  Saturday  afternoons,  when 
they  had  more  leisure,  to  the  more  remote  meadow 
on  the  bank  of  the  Hoosac;  and  there,  under  the 
haystacks,  those  young  Elijahs  prayed  into  existence 
the  embryo  of  American  missions." 

But,  however  important  the  results  of  that  gracious 
outpouring  of  God's  spirit  in  arousing  the  churches 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  239 

of  Christ  to  systematized  and  determined  efforts  for 
the  salvation  of  the  Gentiles,  they  were  scarcely  less 
important  upon  the  permanent  welfare  of  our  own 
country. 

At  the  period  to  which  we  refer,  the  war  of  the  Rev 
olution  had  just  been  terminated.  During  that  war 
many  churches  had  been  disorganized;  their  mem 
bers  had  been  called  to  the  battle  field ;  the  houses 
of  worship  had  been  converted  into  hospitals ;  the 
public  mind  had  been  engrossed  with  other  than  relig 
ious  subjects  ;  and  vital  piety  had  suffered  a  decline. 
Worse  than  this :  the  opinions  of  sceptical  French 
philosophers  were  becoming  prevalent.  Sympathiz 
ing  with  France  in  her  struggles,  as  this  nation 
could  not  fail  to  do,  it  almost  naturally  imbibed  her 
irreligious  principles ;  and  we  were  fast  becoming  a 
nation  of  infidels.  That  revival  was  the  lifting  up 
of  the  standard,  when  the  enemy  was  coming  in 
like  a  flood.  Then  it  was  that  Dr.  Dwight  and  oth 
ers  preached  and  wrote  so  powerfully.  The  Spirit 
of  God  came  down  upon  the  college  of  which  this 
good  and  great  man  held  the  presidency,  on  no  less 
than  four  special  occasions,  and  more  than  two  hun 
dred  young  men  embraced  the"  gospel,  who  in  their 
turn  were  the  means  of  saving  thousands  of  others. 
In  every  direction,  the  "  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  "  tri 
umphed  over  error.  Churches  were  reorganized,  and 
planted  in  new  localities ;  the  ministers  and  mem 
bers  grew  strong  again  under  the  fresh  anointing 
from  on  high,  and  "  believers  were  the  more  added 
to  the  Lord,  multitudes  both  of  men  and  women." 
Then  followed  the  fervent  appeals,  and  wise  deliber 
ations,  and  liberal  devisings,  in  connection  with 


240  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

which  our  various  benevolent  organizations,  of  dif 
ferent  names  and  spheres  of  action,  arose. 

Such  have  been  some  of  the  results,  in  times  past, 
of  the  extensive  revival  of  pure  religion.  How  obvi 
ous  that  it  is  precisely  this  that  is  now  required  for 
the  perfecting  of  Zion,  and  the  successful  prosecu 
tion  of  enterprises  which  she  has  so  nobly  com 
menced  ! 

That  which  is  needful  is,  the  elevation  of  the 
entire  church  of  Christ  on  earth,  to  a  higher  position 
in  point  of  holiness.  Of  numbers,  and  intelligence, 
and  wealth,  she  is  now  possessed.  There  is  no  ele 
ment  of  influence  wanting,  save  that  chief,  and  only 
real  element  of  power,  vital  godliness.  Without 
more  of  this  she  cannot  long  maintain  even  her 
present  position.  She  is  now  but  slowly  advancing. 
It  is  with  a  halting,  trembling  step.  At  times  she 
even  seems  to  falter ;  and  at  some  points  her  forces 
absolutely  retreat ;  while  the  enemy  exultingly  cries, 
Where  is  now  thy  God  ?  and  threatens  to  drive  her 
from  the  field. 

What  can  save  our  large  cities  but  a  powerful  re 
vival  of  religion  ?  In  the  present  state  of  things,  as 
we  have  seen  in  the  opening  chapter  of  this  work, 
while  the  population  is  rapidly  increasing,  the 
churches,  as  to  numbers,  are  scarcely  holding  their 
own.  Infidelity,  intemperance,  licentiousness,  —  ev 
ery  form  of  irreligion,  and  every  species  of  vice,  may 
there  be  seen  springing  up,  and  flourishing  in  a  lux 
urious  growth.  And  more  painful  still  to  contem 
plate,  the  churches  appear  to  be  departing  from  the 
simplicity  of  the  gospel,  and,  in  many  instances,  by 
the  array  of  wealth  and  fashion,  and  the  expense 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  241 

consequent  upon  it,  absolutely  placing  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  masses,  the  privileges  of  God's  house. 
Indeed,  partly  from  this  circumstance,  and  partly 
from  their  own  indifference  to  all  religious  subjects, 
the  great  bulk  of  the  lower  classes,  in  many  of  our 
cities,  is,  in  no  proper  sense  of  the  term,  operated 
upon  by  the  religious  part  of  the  community.  What 
must  be  the  end  of  these  things,  unless  some  radical 
change  is  effected,  it  is  not  difficult  to  foretell.  It  is 
written  in  the  epitaphs  of  those  mighty  and  wicked 
cities  of  old,  buried,  long  since,  in  oblivion.  Will 
any  thing  short  of  a  powerful  work  of  grace  effect 
the  needful  change  ?  Will  any  thing  short  of  this 
reach  and  eradicate  the  fearful  evil  ?  Who  can  de 
vise  any  other  adequate  remedy?  This,  and  this 
alone,  is  efficacious.  It  would  uproot  and  overturn 
the  most  deep-seated  and  far-spreading  vices,  —  it 
would  lead  to  the  consecration  of  the  vast  treasures 
of  wealth  there  accumulated,  and  to  a  great  extent 
in  the  hands  of  professed  Christians,  —  and,  by  puri 
fying,  and  filling  with  new  life  the  great  centres  of 
action,  it  would  cause  to  be  sent  forth  to  the  further 
most  extremities  of  the  land,  influences  for  good. 

But  why  speak  we  of  particular  localities  ?  Let 
any  one  cast  his  eye  over  our  broad  and  beautiful 
domain,  —  let  him  call  to  mind  the  origin,  the  his 
tory,  and  the  character  of  the  people  who  mainly 
inhabit  it,  and  their  commerce,  and  language,  and  in 
stitutions, —  let  him  consider  its  geographical  posi 
tion  as  related  to  other  portions  of  the  globe,  — 
and  its  moral  position  as  related  to  the  world  of 
corrupt  and  vitiated  civilizations  on  the  one  hand, 
and  paganism  on  the  other,  —  and  also  the  wonder- 
21 


242  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

ful  providences  of  God,  which  have,  of  late,  given  to 
us  such  vast  regions  of  rich  territory,  at  the  same 
time  burst  open  the  floodgates  for  the  nations  to 
rush  in  and  possess  it,  —  and  he  cannot  but  exclaim, 
"  O  for  a  voice  of  mighty  thunderings  to  rally  the 
forces  of  our  American  Christendom,  for  another 
bold,  prayerful,  self-devoted,  Puritan  effort  to  found 
the  institutions  of  the  Bible  all  over  these  vast 
plains,  and  build  God's  altars  all  along  these  mighty 
streams,  before  the  god  of  this  world  shall  have  hero 
forged  his  deadly  missiles  and  fortified  his  strong 
holds  ! "  A  powerful-,  wide  spread  revival  would  gain 
these  glorious  results. 

What  one  tiling,  therefore,  does  this  whole  country 
so  loudly  call  for,  as  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
upon  the  churches  ?  Its  salvation  must  "  come  out  of 
Zion"  If  its  foundations  be  not  sapped  by  prevail 
ing  immorality,  —  if  it  fall  not  into  the  hands  of 
Barbarism,  nor  Anarchism,  nor  Romanism,  —  if  it  be 
not  rent  asunder  by  internal  dissensions,  —  if  it  call 
not  down  upon  itself  the  swift  vengeance  of  God, 
because  of  its  aggravated  national  and  individual 
sins, — then  it  must  be  because  the  Most  High  has 
here  a  people  who  fear  him  and  keep  his  testimo 
nies, —  it  must  be  because  they,  the  salt  of  the  earth, 
spread  abroad  throughout  the  entire  mass  of  society 
a  sanctifying  and  conservative  influence. 

And  let  it  remain  in  every  mind,  as  a  deep,  in 
wrought  conviction,  that  only  by  a  more  general 
indwelling  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  can  this  sublime 
mission  of  the  American  churches  be  accomplished. 
They  may  build  houses  for  worship  in  every  nook 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  243 

and  corner  of  the  land,  —  they  may  endow  hundreds 
of  institutions  of  learning,  —  they  may  perfect  their 
methods  and  means  of  doing  good,  —  they  may  do 
battle  upon  the  many  and  complicated  vices  which 
afflict  humanity,  —  they  may  aim  at  the  correction 
of  domestic  abuses  and  political  evils,  —  and  in  doing 
it  may  gain  important  ends  for  the  cause  of  righteous 
ness  and  truth,  —  but  in  order  to  final  and  complete 
success,  there  must  be  an  increase  of  the  Spirit  of  the 
Most  High  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  bear  the 
Christian  name.  Nothing  else  can  make  the  churches 
strong.  Nothing  else  can  remove  the  existing  defects 
of  piety,  and  render  it  efficient.  These  defects  are 
beyond  the  reach  of  all  expedients.  Their  roots  run 
too  deep,  and  are  too  firmly  interwoven  with  the  de 
pravity  of  our  nature,  to  be  eradicated  by  mere 
human  volition.  There  must  be  something  that  is 
elemental  in  its  operations.  Far  down  in  the  heart, 
must  be  felt  the  hidden  power  of  Almighty  grace, 
working  mightily  at  the  very  fountains  of  life  and 
action,  and  imparting  new  vigor  and  force. 

This  gained,  all  is  gained.  There  is  not  a  single 
thing  required  for  carrying  forward  to  ultimate  suc 
cess  the  work  of  the  Lord,  which  this  indwelling  of 
the  divine  efficacy  would  not  secure. 

Is  there  a  demand  for  more  laborers  in  the  ministry^ 
both  at  home  and  abroad?  Suppose  the  work  of 
God  to  be  revived  in  all  our  colleges  and  seminaries 
of  learning,  would  not  the  demand  most  certainly 
be  met?  One  hundred  of  the  converts  in  nine  re 
vivals  which  occurred  in  Dartmouth  College,  are 
known  to  have  entered  the  ministry.  And  who  can 


244  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

tell  how  large  has  been  the  accession  to  the  minis 
terial  force,  from  the  numerous  revivals  with  which 
Yale,  Williams,  Amherst,  Hamilton,  Middlebury, 
and  other  colleges,  have  been  blessed  in  years  gone 
by? 

Is  there  a  demand  for  intelligent,  active  laymen,  to 
lead  on  our  noble  enterprises  ?  A  revival  among  the 
young  men  at  their  schools  of  learning,  or  in  the 
bosom  of  the  churches,  would  meet  the  demand. 
"  Every  student  in  a  college,  of  respectable  talents 
and  attainments,"  says  a  late  writer,  "may  be  re 
garded  as  the  representative  of  at  least  one  thousand 
immortal  beings  to  be  moulded  by  his  opinion  and 
example." 

Is  there  a  demand  for  increased  contributions  to 
objects  of  benevolence  ?  Arguments  and  appeals  from 
pastors  and  returned  missionaries  may  fail  to  call 
them  forth.  But  they  would  not  be  withheld  under 
a  powerful  work  of  grace.  A  close,  penurious  hand 
is  not  the  companion  of  a  heart  that  is  full  of  love  to 
God  and  man. 

And  is  there  an  imperative  necessity  for  more 
singleness  of  aim,  and  trustful,  self-sacrificing,  zealous 
endeavor,  on  the  part  of  the  respective  members  of 
Christ's  body,  for  the  saving  of  their  dying  fellow 
men?  It  would  no  longer  exist,  if  primitive  piety 
were  but  universally  revived.  When  it  prevailed, 
each  disciple  considered  himself  as  called  to  the 
work  of  evangelizing  the  world,  and  went  forth 
giving  to  it  a  practical  illustration  in  his  daily  life. 
What  is  needful,  then,  save  a  return  of  the  scenes  of 
apostolic  days,  especially  those  of  the  ever  memora 
ble  Pentecost  ?  —  a  revival  of  the  simplicity  of  pur- 


A   PREMIUM    ESSAY.  245 

pose,  —  the  entire  consecration, — the  scriptural 
faith,  —  the  self-denial  for  Christ,  —  the  earnestness 
and  individualism  of  effort,  so  signally  developed  in 
the  early  triumphs  of  Chri  stianity,  when  the  multi 
tude  of  them  that  believed  were  of  one  heart  and 
one  soul ;  neither  said  any  of  them  that  aught  of  the 
things  which  he  possesses  was  his  own,  and  "  great 
grace  was  upon  them  all." 

And  why  may  we  not  anticipate  the  return  of  Pente 
costal  seasons?  Why  may  not  Christians  now  be 
"filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,"  as  were  they  in  primi 
tive  times  ?  Not  for  the  working  of  miracles,  it  is 
true,  but  for  the  doing  of  "greater  ivorks  than  these" 
is  the  special  presence  of  God's  Spirit  available  still, 
for  the  disciples  of  Christ.  Moreover,  is  there  not 
left  for  our  encouragement,  the  assurance  of  God's 
readiness  to  bestow  that  Spirit  ?  Behold  how  the 
Saviour  has  condescended  to  reason  the  case  with 
us !  "  If  a  son  shall  ask  bread  of  any  of  you  that  is 
a  father,  will  he  give  him  a  stone  ?  or  if  he  ask  a  fish, 
will  he  give  him  a  serpent  ?  or  if  he  shall  ask  an  egg, 
will  he  offer  him  a  scorpion  ?  If  ye  then,  being  evil, 
know  how  to  give  good  gifts  to  your  children,  how 
much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him !  "  Why,  therefore,  de 
spairingly  lament  that  Zion  languishes  ?  Why 
deplore  the  many  defects  in  Christian  character,  and 
the  worldliness  and  impiety  that  prevail,  with  no 
efforts  toward  their  removal  ? 

"  Whence  do  our  mournful  thoughts  arise, 
And  where 's  our  courage  fled  ?  " 

God  lives  !    He  still  watches  over  the  interests  of  his 
21* 


246  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

kingdom  on  earth.     He  waits  to  be   gracious.     He 
will  hear  prayer,  and  bestow  his  blessing. 

Let  ministers,  then,  be  more  earnest  in  their  en 
deavors  for  a  general  and  powerful  revival  of  primitive 
religion.  Let  them  cry  aloud  and  spare  not.  Let 
them  set  the  trumpet  to  the  mouth,  and  rally  the 
hosts  to  battle.  Let  them  call  upon  the  people  to 
take  to  themselves  words,  and  to  return  unto  the 
Lord  with  mourning,  and  with  fasting,  and  with 
supplication.  Let  there  be  weeping  once  more  be 
tween  the  porch  and  the  altar,  and  the  cry  heard, 
"  Spare  thy  people,  O  Lord,  and  give  not  thine  heri 
tage  to  reproach,  that  the  heathen  should  rule  over 
them ! "  Let  them  preach,  and  labor,  with  special 
reference  to  more  holiness,  and  deeper  religious  feel 
ing,  and  greater  engagedness.  Let  them  expect 
revivals,  and  not  rest  satisfied  without  them.  Let 
them  act  upon  the  suggestion  of  Edwards,  and  be 
fellow-helpers  in  the  work,  —  often  meeting  together, 
and  acting  in  concert;  since,  as  he  intimates,  the 
very  sight  or  appearance  of  a  thoroughly  engaged 
spirit,  together  with  fearless  courage,  and  unyielding 
resolution,  would  do  much  towards  accomplishing 
the  desired  end. 

And  let  believers  generally  strive  after  higher  at 
tainments  in  spiritual  life.  Let  there  be  more  of  that 
weeping  and  confessing  and  praying  and  covenanting 
together,  among  Christians,  which  characterized  the 
revivals  of  days  gone  by,  and  which  always  accom 
pany,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  the  commencement 
of  a  powerful  work  of  grace.  Let  the  great  theme  be 
salvation ;  and  the  great  aim  the  stirring  up  of  each 


A    PREMIUM    ESSAY.  247 

other's  minds  by  way  of  remembrance ;  and  the 
snatching  of  perishing  souls  from  the  everlasting 
burnings.  Let  any  one  believer  who  mourns  over 
the  desolations  of  Zion,  not  wait  for  the  revival  of 
the  entire  congregation,  but  personally  take  hold 
upon  the  promises,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
resolve  never  to  cease  from  efforts  and  prayers  for 
increased  religious  interest,  until  it  is  experienced. 
What  may  not  one  individual,  thoroughly  in  earnest, 
under  God,  accomplish ! 

Fellow  Christian;  let  the  work  begin  in  your 
own  bosom!  Call  upon  the  Lord  to  arouse  your 
drowsy  soul.  Why  stand  you  idle  ?  The  future  is 
the  time  for  rest,  —  the  present  for  action.  "  In  this 
theatre  of  man's  life,  it  is  reserved  only  for  God  and 
his  angels  to  be  lookers-on."  Up,  then,  and  seek  to 
compass  life's  great  end.  Go  ivork  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard.  He  will  soon  call  you  to  your  account. 
The  Judge  standeth  at  the  door.  The  throne  will 
be  set.  The  books  will  soon  be  opened,  and  men's 
destiny  sealed  up  forever.  "  Behold,  I  come  quickly ; 
and  my  reward  is  with  me,  to  give  every  man  ac 
cording  as  his  work  shall  be." 

Have  you  no  spirit  for  his  service  ?  Is  your  heart 
cold,  and  dead  ?  Then  take  it  to  Christ.  • 

"  None  but  a  bath  of  blood  divine 
Can  melt  the  flint  away." 

Repair  again  to  Calvary,  where  your  heart  was  first 
melted.  You  cannot  linger  amid  the  scenes  of  the 
crucifixion,  and  remain  unaffected.  The  Pilgrim  in 
his  journey  to  the  Celestial  City,  saw  a  cross,  and 
stood  still  and  wondered.  Jle  stood  and  looked,  and 


248  PRIMITIVE   PIETY   REVIVED. 

looked  again,  "  till  the  springs  that  were  in  his  head, 
sent  the  waters  down  his  cheeks."  Draw  near,  that 
you  may  behold  a  suffering  Jesus.  Gaze  upon  that 
countenance  that  had  borne  no  other  look  than  that 
of  benevolence.  What  agony  is  now  depicted ! 
Look  again.  See  those  hands,  that  had  been  filled 
only  with  benefits  for  men,  —  that  had  fed  the  hun 
gry,  opened  blind  eyes,  and  ministered  healing  mer 
cies  to  the  sick,  —  see  them  now  pierced  through 
with  cruel  nails !  Look  again.  See  those  feet,  that 
had  borne  him  up  and  down,  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land  on  errands  of  mercy,  now 
spiked  to  the  wood!  And  again.  See  that  majestic 
brow,  that  had  been  ever  radiant  with  more  than  a 
brother's  compassion,  —  see  it  now  all  besprinkled 
and  dripping  with  blood ! 

"  See  from  his  head,  his  hands,  his  feet, 
Sorrow  and  love  flow  mingled  down  ! " 

Look,  if  you  can,  still  once  again.  There  is  that 
heart,  that  throbbed  with  more  than  a  mother's  affec 
tion,  —  is  it  not  enough  that  it  has  been  crushed,  till 
it  can  beat  no  more  ?  No,  it  must  bleed  !  See  ! 
they  have  pierced  it  with  a  spear !  His  heart's  blood 
is  pouring  forth!  And  for  ivhat?  Wherefore  all 
this? 

"  Was  it  for  crimes  that  I  had  done, 
He  groaned  upon  the  tree  ?  " 

Yes,  for  YOU,  my  brother,  all  this  for  you  !  Surely 
must  such  love  warm  into  life  the  best  affections 
of  your  soul.  Surely  must  it  constrain  you  to  make 
such  returns  as  lie  in  your  power,  by  putting  forth 


A   PREMIUM   ESSAY.  249 

every  possible  effort  to  save  those  for  whom  Christ 
died.  And  thus  yourself  revived,  encourage  this 
same  spirit  among  your  brethren ;  nor  cease,  at  the 
mercy-seat  of  the  Everlasting  Father,  to  urge,  with 
the  faithful  of  the  earth,  the  earnest  cry,  "  O  LORD, 

REVIVE  THY  WORK  !  " 


END. 


OVERDUE. 


YB-29462 


5*37? 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


